Speakers
Description
The layout configuration of machinery in forest products manufacturing facilities plays a critical role in occupational health and safety, operational efficiency, and production sustainability. In sawmills, timber processing plants, panel production units, and surface treatment lines, machine placement is generally designed according to production flow and space constraints. However, ergonomic risk factors such as awkward postures, repetitive movements, excessive material handling distances, limited visibility, noise exposure, and vibration are often insufficiently considered during layout planning. This may lead to work-related musculoskeletal disorders, increased accident risk, productivity losses, and long-term operational inefficiencies.
This study proposes an expert-based Multi-Criteria Decision-Making (MCDM) model to optimize ergonomic machine layout alternatives in forest products facilities. In the first phase, relevant ergonomic and operational criteria are identified through a comprehensive literature review and field observations. The proposed criteria framework includes: (i) operator reach distance, (ii) material handling and transportation distance, (iii) visibility and control field suitability, (iv) noise and vibration exposure level, (v) emergency accessibility, and (vi) maintenance accessibility. These criteria aim to integrate both safety-oriented and production-oriented considerations into a unified decision structure.
In the second phase, expert evaluations are collected from professionals in forestry engineering, occupational health and safety, production management, and ergonomics (minimum 10-15 experts). Criteria weights are determined using either subjective approaches such as AHP or Fuzzy AHP, or objective weighting techniques such as Entropy or CRITIC, allowing a comparative assessment of weighting strategies. Subsequently, alternative layout scenarios such as linear flow layout, U-shaped layout, and cellular layout are developed for a representative forest products production system. These alternatives are ranked using TOPSIS or Fuzzy TOPSIS to determine the most ergonomically and operationally suitable configuration.
The proposed model provides a structured decision-support framework that simultaneously minimizes ergonomic risk and supports operational efficiency. A sensitivity analysis is conducted to evaluate the robustness of ranking results against changes in criteria weights.
Unlike conventional forestry mechanization studies that primarily focus on productivity and machine performance, this research integrates ergonomic risk assessment and occupational safety into layout optimization. The findings contribute to the development of sustainable and human-centered mechanization strategies in forest products manufacturing. The proposed approach is practical, adaptable to different facility types, and aligned with the objectives of the FORMEC symposium in promoting advanced and responsible forest mechanization solutions.
| Keywords | Ergonomics; Machinery; MCDM; Risk |
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