Ergonomic Design of Working Table to Improve Productivity in the Jewellery Industry

In the jewellery industry, goldsmiths play a vital role, dedicating 8–12 h daily to do intricate tasks at their workstations. However, the current design of their working tables contributes to significant issues, including Musculoskeletal Disorders (MSDs) and inefficiencies in metal dust collection. These problems adversely impact their occupational well-being and productivity. The objectives of this research are to survey the existing working tables of the goldsmiths, to study the various challenges faced by the goldsmiths while working in the existing workstations and to propose an ergonomic design of a working table to improve productivity. The research methodology adopted in this paper consists of (i) conducting an initial survey of the existing working table used by the goldsmiths, (ii) identifying user needs, (iii) generating design concepts with the help of a morphological chart, (iv) selecting the most effective concept using a Pugh matrix and (v) digital prototyping and virtual ergonomic evolution. The above methods have been used to generate several design concepts which have been further analysed using the Pugh matrix to identify the most effective and viable design concept. Accordingly, an ergonomic design of a working table has been developed integrating ergonomic principles and safety features to improve productivity as well as the occupational health and safety of the goldsmiths. It is expected that the proposed design will reduce musculoskeletal disorders and inefficiencies due to metal dust in the workplace.