66 research outputs found
Turismo de negócios: criação de uma marca certificadora
No turismo de negócios a principal motivação está directa e principalmente relacionada com objectivos profissionais e empresariais e não apenas recreativos e de lazer, pelo que o valor oferecido pelo destino baseia-se fundamentalmente na disponibilidade e no bom desempenho dos elementos que satisfaçam a motivação principal.
A implementação de um sistema de gestão e de processos e a sua posterior certificação é uma mais-valia para qualquer organização. Traduz-se directamente na melhoria da imagem, acesso a novos mercados, redução de custos de funcionamento com a optimização do desempenho operacional e numa nova cultura para a sensibilização e motivação dos colaboradores, orientada para a contínua satisfação dos clientes e de todas as partes interessadas.
Dada a especificidade e a qualidade exigida a este sector e analisando a multiplicidade da oferta do turismo de negócios no seu todo, a criação de uma marca certificadora e qualificadora dos serviços inerentes ao sector apresenta-se como uma oportunidade de negócio, não só na criação da marca certificadora em si, mas também para o alvo da mesma.
O presente trabalho tem como objectivo analisar e confirmar a viabilidade de uma marca certificadora para o turismo de negócios. Realizámos assim um conjunto de pesquisas nas áreas do turismo de negócios e da certificação. Pretendeu-se aferir se existe necessidade do mercado para a criação da marca, bem como a opinião sobre procedimentos envolvidos.
Optamos pela realização de um trabalho de projecto pela pertinência do tema e pela lacuna de informação existente no mercado, o que nos levou a uma análise mais prática da sua viabilidade. Impõe-se a realização de pesquisas mais aprofundadas, nomeadamente na área da certificação.In the business tourism sector the main motivation is directly and primarily related to business and professional goals, and not only recreational and leisure, so the value that the destination is primarily based on the availability and performance of the elements that satisfy the primary motivation.
The implementation of a management and processes system and subsequent certification is an asset for any organization, resulting in improved image, access to new markets, reduces operating costs by improving operational performance and in a new culture with awareness and motivation of employees, focused on continuous improvement and customer satisfaction and all stakeholders.
Given the specificity and quality required to this sector and considering the multiplicity of supply of business tourism as a whole, the creation of a certification brand that qualifies all services of the sector presents itself as a business opportunity, not only in creating the certification mark itself, but for the mark to be certified as well.
This paper aims to analize and confirm the feasibility of a certification mark for business tourism. We thus conducted a survey in the area of business tourism and certification. We inquired 69 people and carried out 14 interviews with opinion leaders and entrepreneurs in the business tourism area. We want to assess whether there is market need for the creation of the brand, as well as beliefs about the procedures involved. We chose a work project on the relevance of the topic and the information gap in the market, which led us to a more practical analysis of the issues. Further research, particularly in the area of certification needs to be carried out. Given the increasing convergence of responses to the questionnaires, interviews and various tests carried out we can conclude that 1) There is a need to qualify the area of business tourism, 2) Certification is a way to professionalize and, consequently, disseminate and promote the credibility of the sector and destination, as well as the sector marks themselves 3) It is economically feasible to create a certification mark of the business tourism
Tarefas de manipulação manual de cargas : selecção de métodos de avaliação de risco
Dissertação de mestrado em Engenharia HumanaA Manipulação Manual de Cargas está presente num conjunto significativo de
tarefas que uma extensa multiplicidade de operadores tem de realizar nos seus
postos de trabalho, ocorrendo transversalmente, desde a indústria
transformadora, à construção, passando pelos serviços. Contudo, esta
manipulação manual constitui um determinante factor de risco para o
desenvolvimento de Lesões Músculo-Esqueléticas relacionadas com o Trabalho.
Este risco pode ser minimizado através de uma intervenção ergonómica baseada
na identificação e na avaliação dos factores de risco associados a esse tipo de
tarefas. Para tal, existem diversos métodos que permitem identificar e avaliar o
risco de lesões músculo-esqueléticas na manipulação manual de cargas.
Pretendeu-se com este estudo elaborar um Guião, que permita, de forma
simples, apoiar a selecção e de aplicação do método mais apropriado para
avaliar esse risco num posto de trabalho específico. Da análise bibliográfica
realizada foram analisados vários métodos distintos, sendo que 10 deles foram
incluídos no Guião. A fase seguinte envolveu a realização de um questionário de
contextualização do presente estudo. Um dos principais resultados que foi
possível inferir do questionário indica que grande parte dos técnicos conhece,
por vezes com detalhe, alguns dos métodos mas, em simultâneo, desconhecem
a forma de aplicação dos mesmos, ou sentem alguma dificuldade em
seleccionar o método mais apropriado. Tendo em consideração este resultado,
foi desenvolvida uma ferramenta informática cujo objectivo consiste em
apresentar de forma intuitiva o Guião desenvolvido e permita que a selecção do
método de avaliação do risco seja feita de forma apropriada. Depois, a partir de
uma amostra de possíveis utilizadores finais deste produto, testou-se a sua
usabilidade, com a administração de um inquérito por questionário, de modo a
avaliar: (1) a eficácia, estimada pela taxa de sucesso dos utilizadores mediante
uma tarefa pré-definida; (2) a eficiência, medindo o tempo dispendido para
atingir os objectivos; e (3) o grau de satisfação dos utilizadores, relativamente à
empatia, aprendizagem, controlo, ajuda e eficiência do Guião. Os dados obtidos,
apontam para uma avaliação global positiva da aplicação informática. O facto de
o Guião não permitir realizar os cálculos directamente relativos à aplicação dos
métodos foi o aspecto negativo mais apontado pelos utilizadores. Relativamente
aos aspectos positivos mais referenciados, estes estão relacionados com a
facilidade de consulta do Guião, com o seu aspecto gráfico, bem como com o
facto de este produto constituir um meio de informação sobre os métodos
considerados. Espera-se que este trabalho permita uma maior difusão dos
métodos seleccionados e que a sua escolha seja facilitada, permitindo também
minimizar os riscos inerentes às tarefas de Manipulação Manual de Cargas.Manual Handling of Loads is present in a significantly group of tasks that a wide
variety of workers has to realize in their workplaces, occurring transversally, from
the transforming industry, to the construction industry, passing through services.
However, this manual handling constitutes a determinant risk factor for
development of work-related musculoskeletal disorders. This risk can be
minimized through an ergonomic intervention based on the identification and
evaluation of risk factors associated with this type of tasks. For that purpose,
there are several methods for identifying and evaluating the risk for
musculoskeletal disorders in the manual handling loads. With this study it was
intended to develop a simple Guide, with a simple structure, in order to be used
as a decision-making support for the selection and application of the most
appropriate method to assess this risk at a particular workplace. The undertaken
literature review has analyzed several different methods, being 10 of them
included in the Guide. The next stage involved the realization of a questionnaire
of contextualization of the present study. One of the main results that could be
obtained from the questionnaire indicated that most of the practitioners know,
sometimes in detail, some of the methods but, simultaneously, they do not know
how to implement them or, at least, feel some difficulty in selecting the most
appropriate method. Taking this result into account, it was developed a
multimedia tool whose purpose was to provide an intuitive way to the developed
Guide and to allow that the methods selection for risk assessment is done
properly. Afterward, using a sample of possible final users of this product, its
usability was tested, using the administration of a questionnaire, in order to
evaluate: (1) the efficacy, estimated by the success rate of users by means of a
pre-defined task; (2) the efficiency, measuring the needed time to achieve the
goals; and (3) the degree of satisfaction of the users, relatively to empathy,
learning, control, helpfulness and efficiency of the Guide. The obtained data,
points to a global positive evaluation of the multimedia tool. The fact that the
Guide does not allow to carry out the calculations directly relative to the
application of the methods was the negative aspect more frequently pointed by
the users. Concerning the more evidenced positive aspects, these are related
with the facility in consulting the Guide, with its graphic appearance, as well as
the fact that this product constitutes a mean of information about the considered
methods. It is expected that this work will permit a wider dissemination of the
selected methods and that its choice becomes easier, also allowing minimizing
the risks inherent to the manual handling tasks
Obesity influence on perceived physical overload during vertical handling loads - A preliminary study
Obesity prevalence is increasing among the Portuguese workforce, similarly to other industrial countries. Obesity seems to negatively affect the individuals’ work capacity. Tasks with vertical handling loads, including lifting and lowering, are very common in occupational contexts. With the aim of studying the possible effect of obesity on workers’ physical overload during vertical handling loads, psychophysical data were collected from a total of 14 participants with different obesity levels (non-obese, high level of obesity and very high level). The participants were asked to go through 6 lifting trials with different occupational conditions and, for each task tested, they reported physical loading by using the Borg’ “Category Ratio-10” (CR-10) scale. The obtained results in this preliminary study are not conclusive about the obesity influence on perceived physical overload during vertical handling loads. Accordingly, this study should be continued, by considering a statistically valid sample and other psychophysical techniques that can complement the CR10 scale results
Occupational safety & ergonomics training of future industrial engineers: a project-based learning approach
As industries push for continuous technological innovation, the need to balance work demands and human capabilities and to ensure the workers' safety is now more pressing than ever. Therefore, the training of future industrial engineers must promote the development of different skills, including in the Occupational Safety & Ergonomics (OS&E) domain. Based on this assumption, Project-Based Learning (PjBL) is an active learning methodology where students develop projects in teams as a means of building effective professional skills and knowledge. The current study aims at evaluating the impact of PjBL in effective learning on OS&E, based on the participants' perceptions. PjBL has been applied in the 7th semester of the Integrated MSc in Industrial Engineering and Management at a Portuguese University. In the last years, different companies in the northern region of Portugal have participated in this PjBL, welcoming the students to develop the projects. The current study included a documental analysis that was also developed, considering the final technical reports developed by the students during a scholar semester. In addition, a questionnaire for data collection was developed and applied to the participants. The sample (n=64) included university students who participated in the referred PjBL, their teachers, and the supervisors of the companies where the Project was developed. Globally, the participants' perceptions reveal that the PjBL participants attribute a positive evaluation to this learning methodology, concerning the development of technical (on OS&E) and transversal skills.FCT - Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia(UIDB/00319/2020
Physical ergonomic improvement and safe design of an assembly workstation through collaborative robotics
One of the key interesting features of collaborative robotic applications is the potential to lighten the worker workload and potentiate better working conditions. Moreover, developing robotics applications that meets ergonomic criteria is not always a straightforward endeavor. We propose a framework to guide the safe design and conceptualization of ergonomic-driven collaborative robotics workstations. A multi-disciplinary approach involving robotics and ergonomics and human factors shaped this methodology that leads future engineers through the digital transformation of a manual assembly (with repetitive and hazardous operations) to a hybrid workstation, focusing on the physical ergonomic improvement. The framework follows four main steps, (i) the characterization of the initial condition, (ii) the risk assessment, (iii) the definition of requirements for a safe design, and (iv) the conceptualization of the hybrid workstation with all the normative implications it entails. We applied this methodology to a case study in an assembly workstation of a furniture manufacturing company. Results show that the methodology adopted sets an adequate foundation to accelerate the design and development of new human-centered collaborative robotic workstations.This work has been supported by NORTE-06-3559-FSE-000018, integrated in the invitation NORTE-59-2018-41, aiming the Hiring of Highly Qualified Human Resources, co-financed by the Regional Operational Programme of the North 2020, thematic area of Competitiveness and
Employment, through the European Social Fund (ESF)
Estudio y análisis de un nuevo dispositivo para la rehabilitación de la articulación tibiotarsal
Introduction: Currently, there are several types of devices and techniques for the rehabilitation of the tibiotarsal joint. However, complete and effective rehabilitation still falls short of expectations, since the existing devices are not adaptable to the level of torque and the number of repetitions and sessions to be performed, as these depend on each patient and on the stage at which he is finds. Objetives: To improve a mechatronic device for the rehabilitation of the tibiotarsal joint, the Therapheet. Methods: This study presents a review of the tibiotarsal joint rehabilitation protocols, as well as the classification of devices used for this purpose. Thus, the purpose is to improve the Therapheet, developed at the Department of Mechanical Engineering of the University of Minho, obtaining a viable, functional and safe rehabilitation device, standing out from the rest on the market, since it allows the execution of the six rehabilitation exercises. Results: It was obtained a prototype of equipment for rehabilitation of the tibiotarsal joint was obtained, proposing changes for improvement according to the specificities and requirements for such a device, having been subjected to a series of preliminary
tests to verify its functionality, performance and suitability. The equipment proved to be functional, in terms of executing the ankle rehabilitation movements, however, it still manifests some flaws in terms of the user's stability, sudden movements, and above all dysfunctions arising from excess mass that make up its structure and limitations pneumatic technology adopted. Conclusions: The control of the amplitude of the characteristic angles of the movements of the foot is still done manually, so it would be significant to implement an automated system that would allow the control of the range of amplitude, according to the patient's rehabilitation phase. One option would be the implementation of a new technology, such as the insertion of servomotors.Introdução: Atualmente existem vários tipos de dispositivos e técnicas para a reabilitação da articulação tibiotársica. No
entanto, a reabilitação completa e eficaz ainda está aquém das expectativas, uma vez que os dispositivos existentes não são
adaptáveis ao nível do binário e do número de repetições e sessões a executar, pois estas dependem de cada paciente e do
estádio em que este se encontra.
Objetivos: Melhorar um dispositivo mecatrónico, de reabilitação da articulação tibiotársica, o Therapheet.
Métodos: Neste estudo é apresentada uma revisão dos protocolos de reabilitação da articulação tibiotársica, assim como a
classificação dos dispositivos utilizados para este propósito. Assim, a finalidade é aperfeiçoar o Therapheet, desenvolvido no
Departamento de Engenharia Mecânica da Universidade do Minho, obtendo-se um dispositivo de reabilitação viável, funcional e
seguro, destacando-se dos restantes no mercado, uma vez que permite a executação dos seis exercícios de reabilitação.
Resultados: Foi obtido um protótipo de equipamento para reabilitação da articulação tibiotársica, propondo alterações de
melhoria de acordo com as especificidades e os requisitos necessários para um dispositivo deste tipo, tendo sido submetido a
uma série de testes preliminares para verificar a sua funcionalidade, desempenho e adequabilidade. O equipamento
demonstrou ser funcional, a nível de execução dos movimentos de reabilitação do tornozelo, no entanto, ainda manifesta
algumas falhas ao nível da estabilidade do utilizador, movimentos bruscos, e sobretudo disfunções provenientes de excesso de
massa que compõe a sua estrutura e de limitações da tecnologia pneumática adotada.
Conclusões: O controlo da amplitude dos ângulos característicos dos movimentos do pé ainda é feito manualmente, pelo que
seria significativa a implementação de um sistema automatizado que possibilitasse o controlo da graduação da amplitude, de
acordo com a fase de reabilitação do paciente. Uma opção seria a implementação de uma nova tecnologia, como a inserção de
servomotores.Introducción: Actualmente, existen varios tipos de dispositivos y técnicas para la rehabilitación de la articulación tibiotarsal. Sin
embargo, la rehabilitación completa y efectiva aún no cumple con las expectativas, ya que los dispositivos existentes no son
adaptables al nivel de torque y al número de repeticiones y sesiones a realizar, ya que dependen de cada paciente y la etapa en
la que se encuentra.
Objetivos: Mejorar un dispositivo mecatrónico para la rehabilitación de la articulación tibiotarsal, el Therapheet.
Métodos: Este estudio presenta una revisión de los protocolos de rehabilitación de la articulación tibiotarsal, así como la
clasificación de los dispositivos utilizados para este propósito. Por lo tanto, el propósito es mejorar un dispositivo mecatrónico
desarrollado en el Departamento de Ingeniería Mecánica de la Universidad de Minho, el Therapheet, obteniendo un dispositivo de rehabilitación viable, funcional y seguro, que se destaque del resto en el mercado, ya que permite la ejecución de los seis
ejercicios de rehabilitación.
Resultados: Se obtuvo un prototipo de equipo para la rehabilitación de la articulación tibiotarsal, proponiendo cambios para
mejorar de acuerdo con las especificidades y requisitos de dicho dispositivo, habiendo sido sometido a un serie de pruebas
preliminares para verificar su funcionalidad, rendimiento e idoneidad. El equipo demostró ser funcional, en términos de
ejecución de los movimientos de rehabilitación de tobillo, sin embargo, todavía presenta algunos defectos en términos de
estabilidad del usuario, movimientos bruscos y, sobre todo, disfunciones derivadas del exceso de masa que conforman su
estructura y limitaciones. Tecnología neumática adoptada.
Conclusións: El control de la amplitud de los ángulos característicos de los movimientos del pie todavía se realiza manualmente,
por lo que sería importante implementar un sistema automatizado que permita el control del rango de amplitud, de acuerdo
con la fase de rehabilitación del paciente. Una opción sería la implementación de una nueva tecnología, como la inserción de
servomotores.This work has been supported by FCT – Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia with-in the R&D Units Project Scope:
UIDP/04077/2020. It has been also supported by FCT – Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia within the R&D Units Project
Scope: UIDB/00319/2020
Towards an ergonomic assessment framework for industrial assembly workstations - a case study
Work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WMSD) are one of the main occupational health problems. The best strategy to prevent them lies on ergonomic interventions. The variety of industrial processes and environments, however, makes it difficult to define an all-purpose framework to guide these ergonomic interventions. This undefinition is exacerbated by recurrent introduction of new technologies, e.g., collaborative robots. In this paper, we propose a framework to guide ergonomics and human factors practitioners through all stages of assessment and redesign of workstations. This framework was applied in a case study at an assembly workstation of a large furniture enterprise. Direct observation of work activity and questionnaires were applied to characterize the workstations, the process, and the workers’ profiles and perceptions. An ergonomic multi-method approach, based on well-known and validated methods (such as the Finnish Institute of Occupational Health and Rapid Upper Limb Assessment), was applied to identify the most critical risk factors. We concluded that this approach supports the process redesign and tasks’ allocation of the future workstation. From these conclusions, we distill a list of requirements for the creation of a collaborative robot cell, specifying which tasks are performed by whom, as well as the scheduling of the human-robot collaboration (HRC).This work has been supported by NORTE-06-3559-FSE-000018, integrated in the invitation
NORTE-59-2018-41, aiming the Hiring of Highly Qualified Human Resources, co-financed by the Regional
Operational Programme of the North 2020, thematic area of Competitiveness and Employment, through the
European Social Fund (ESF). This work has been also supported by FCT – Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia within the R&D Units Project Scope: UIDB/00319/2020
Ergonomics and human factors as a requirement to implement safer collaborative robotic workstations: a literature review
There is a worldwide interest in implementing collaborative robots (Cobots) to reduce work-related Musculoskeletal Disorders (WMSD) risk. While prior work in this field has recognized the importance of considering Ergonomics & Human Factors (E&HF) in the design phase, most works tend to highlight workstations’ improvements due to Human-Robot Collaboration (HRC). Based on a literature review, the current study summarises studies where E&HF was considered a requirement rather than an output. In this article, the authors are interested in understanding the existing studies focused on Cobots’ implementation with ergonomic requirements, and the methods applied to design safer collaborative workstations. This review was performed in four prominent publications databases: Scopus, Web of Science, Pubmed, and Google Scholar, searching for the keywords ‘Collaborative robots’ or ‘Cobots’ or ‘HRC’ and ‘Ergonomics’ or ‘Human factors’. Based on the inclusion criterion, 20 articles were reviewed, and the main conclusions of each are provided. Additionally, the focus was given to the segmentation between studies considering E&HF during the design phase of HRC systems and studies applying E&HF in real-time on HRC systems. The results demonstrate the novelty of this topic, especially of the real-time applications of ergonomics as a requirement. Globally, the results of the reviewed studies showed the potential of E&HF requirements integrated into HRC systems as a relevant input for reducing WMSD risk.This work has been supported by FCT–Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia and MIT
Portugal Program under the doctoral Grant SFRH/BD/151365/2021. This work has been also
supported by NORTE-06-3559-FSE-000018, integrated in the invitation NORTE-59-2018-41, aiming the
Hiring of Highly Qualified Human Resources, co-financed by the Regional Operational Programme
of the North 2020, thematic area of Competitiveness and Employment, through the European
Social Fund. Additionally, has been also supported by FCT within the Project “I-CATER–Intelligent
robotic Coworker Assistant for industrial Tasks with an Ergonomics Rationale”, Ref. PTDC/EEIROB/3488/2021, and within R&D Units Project Scope: UIDB/00319/2020
Human–robot interaction in industrial settings: perception of multiple participants at a crossroad intersection scenario with different courtesy cues
In environments shared with humans, Autonomous Mobile Robots (AMRs) should be designed with human-aware motion-planning skills. Even when AMRs can effectively avoid humans, only a handful of studies have evaluated the human perception of mobile robots. To establish appropriate non-verbal communication, robot movement should be legible and should consider the human element. In this paper, a study that evaluates humans’ perceptions of different AMR courtesy behaviors at industrial facilities, particularly at crossing areas, is presented. To evaluate the proposed kinesic courtesy cues, we proposed five tests (four proposed cues—stop, deceleration, retreating, and retreating and moving aside—and one control test) with a set of participants taken two by two. We assessed three different metrics, namely, the participants’ self-reported trust in AMR behavior, the legibility of the courtesy cues in the participants’ opinions, and the behavioral analysis of the participants related to each courtesy cue tested. The retreating courtesy cue, regarding the legibility of the AMR behavior, and the decelerate courtesy cue, regarding the behavioral analysis of the participants’ signs of hesitation, are better perceived from the forward view. The results obtained regarding the participants’ self-reported trust showed no significant differences in the two participant perspectives.NORTE-06-3559-FSE-000018, integrated in the invitation NORTE-59-2018-41, aimed at the Hiring of Highly Qualified Human Resources, co-financed by the Regional Operational Programme of the North 2020, thematic area of Competitiveness and Employment, through the European Social Fund (ESF). This work was also supported by FCT–Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia within the R&D Units Project Scope: UIDB/00319/2020
Differences in muscular activity between obese and non-obese workers during manual lifting
The prevalence of obesity is increasing throughout the workforce. Manual lifting tasks are common and can produce significant muscle loading. This study compared muscular activity between obese and non-obese subjects, using surface Electromyography (EMG), during manual lifting. Six different lifting tasks (with 5, 10 and 15 kg loads in free and constrained styles) were performed by 14 participants with different obesity levels. EMG data normalization was based on the percentage of Maximum Contraction during each Task (MCT). Muscle Activation Times (AT) before each task were also evaluated. The study suggests that obesity can increase MCT and delay muscle AT. These findings reinforce the need to develop further studies focused on obesity as a risk factor for the development of musculoskeletal disorders
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