Ergonomists are trained to analyse how people use products and to pinpoint users' needs - both tacit and latent. Their research can identify new business opportunities and trigger innovative design solutions
Involving ergonomists as an integral part of the design development team ensures that the users' needs remain in focus at all times. By including reiterative ergonomics evaluation throughout the design development phase can help reduce business risk and increase the probability of market success.
Ergonomists are also well equipped to help businesses address the issue of the 'ageing population'. By the year 2020 half the adults in the UK will be aged 50 or over and the number of older people in the world will double to 1.2 billion by 2028. Businesses are beginning to realise the commercial advantages of inclusive design using the principles of ergonomics to design products and services that are usable by the widest possible range of people.
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Businesses also have responsibilities to their employees under the Health and Safety at Work Act 1995. Ergonomics analysis effectively identifies any health and safety risks, including those associated with repetitive work and manual handling and leads to solutions that minimise or avoid the risks. The solutions can be in the form of physical design changes, job design changes or staff training.
Within manufacturing, ergonomics analysis can also bring efficiencies and quality improvements to production lines, while at the same time enhancing the health and safety of employees.
In the public services, ergonomics is extremely important in defining standards and legislation and ensuring compliance with standards and regulations.
The design of services, such as transport, healthcare and education all benefit from a user-centred approach. Understanding the real needs of users has to be achieved through research and analysis and not through inspired guesswork. Ergonomists are trained in the necessary research techniques and are able to apply knowledge of the users' abilities and limitations in the design process. In this way services can be delivered which are not only effective, but which avoid anxiety and are pleasurable to use.