Quality Management and Ergonomics: An Integrative Approach through the ETdA System Approach

This paper describes a new approach specifically developed for ergonomic assessments and redesign of common areas with free circulation of people: Ergonomic Tridimensional Analysis, ETdA. In these environments, the total quality management philosophy is focused not only in workforce satisfaction, but also in clients’ wellbeing. As a consequence of this interaction, clients and professionals can equally be exposed to the same ergonomic risk factors. From the management point of view, the ongoing concern with the clients requires a continuous improvement in several organizational keys-areas such as quality, occupational safety and health, environment protection, and cost of products and services. Results show that ETdA model will increase the population awareness for ergonomics and creates a co-production responsibility in the changes to be implemented.