Application of the EFQM Model to Assess the Readiness and Sustainability of the Implementation of I4.0 in Slovakian Companies

The fourth industrial revolution (I4.0) is expected to increase quality, efficiency, availability, sustainability, the reduction of costs, the demand for energy and environment, and mainly increase the level of occupational health and safety (OHS). New procedures or paradigms of this revolution deflect from already used standards and create an assumption for building the exceptionality of organizations. The main idea of the performed research was to assess how managers in the Slovak industry perceive the readiness of organizations for the implementation of I4.0. The aim of this study, applied in 53 companies, was to assess two areas: the integration level of complex safety into management systems; and the impact of digitalization on OHS. The applied methodology was based on a modified EFQM (European Foundation for Quality Management) exceptionality model. Answers were transformed into numeric figures using a so-called spider web diagram. In the conclusion of this article, there are described interesting differences in the two mentioned areas based on the perception of both top management and the estimation of the readiness degree of the Slovak organizations for I4.0 concept

Ergonomic Assessment of Physical Load in Slovak Industry Using Wearable Technologies

The physical tasks of workers are demanding, particularly when performed long-term in unsuitable working position, with high frequency, heavy load, after injury, with developing damage of health or reduced performance due to advanced age. Work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WMSDs) result from overuse or develop over time. Work activities, which are frequent and repetitive, or activities with awkward postures, cause disorders that may be painful during work or at rest. There is a new technology in the market, occupational exoskeletons, which have the prerequisites for minimizing the negative consequences of workload on WMSDs. We provided pilot quantitative measurements of the ergonomic risk at one selected workplace in a Slovak automotive company with four different workers to prove our methodology using wearable wireless multi-sensor systems Captiv and Actigraph. At first, the test was performed in standard conditions without an exoskeleton. The unacceptable physical load was identified in considerable evaluated body areas—neck, hip, and shoulder. Next, the passive chair exoskeleton Chairless Chair 2.0 was used in trials as an ergonomic measure. Our intention was to determine whether an exoskeleton would be an effective tool for optimizing the workload in selected workplaces and whether the proposed unique quantitative measurement system would give reliable and quick results