Papers by Aide Aracely Maldonado Macias
Advances in Human Resources Management and Organizational Development
The use of exoskeletons in occupational tasks has increased significantly in the last five years.... more The use of exoskeletons in occupational tasks has increased significantly in the last five years. However, few comparative studies have been conducted to understand the advantages and disadvantages of existing exoskeletons. This chapter presents the comparison of six exoskeletons using the TOPSIS method. Using databases of patents and commercial products, a total of six that were chosen to be compared by experts in the design and/or use of exoskeletons. The criteria evaluated were exoskeleton weight, load capacity, anthropometric adjusts, maintenance, and installation on the user. The Shoulder-X exoskeleton was selected as the best, serving as a reference for the acquisition of characteristics for recommendations for the development of new models for use in occupational tasks.
Advances in The Ergonomics in Manufacturing: Managing the Enterprise of the Future, 2020
Fatigue in industrial workers is a multifactorial phenomenon. There are demographic factors that ... more Fatigue in industrial workers is a multifactorial phenomenon. There are demographic factors that may have a significant influence on the perception of fatigue, but they remain almost unexplored to date.. The present study addresses this issue. A survey to assess fatigue was conducted among CNC lathe operators in three industrial concerns where automotive parts are manufactured. Homokinetic joints in site 1 (121 workers); camshafts in site 2 (121 workers); pistons in site 3 (21 workers). The subjects completed a survey instrument that included two questionnaires to assess fatigue: SOFI−S and OFER−S. There was also a section asking for demographic information. The MANOVA procedure was used to explore the influence of the demographic factors on fatigue. Factors affecting the fatigue dimensions (SOFI−S) were gender, body weight, stature, total length of sleep during a day, and age. Factors affecting the fatigue states (OFER-S) were weight of load being handled, gender, total length of s...
IEEE Access, 2021
This work involved human subjects or animals in its research. The authors confirm that all human/... more This work involved human subjects or animals in its research. The authors confirm that all human/animal subject research procedures and protocols are exempt from review board approval.
Advances in Manufacturing, Production Management and Process Control, 2018
This research shows the case study of a cognitive analysis of computer repair technicians’ tasks.... more This research shows the case study of a cognitive analysis of computer repair technicians’ tasks. According to face to face interviews, the task of diagnose the failure and testing the power supply present difficulties and human error is frequent. In this manner, it is necessary to analyze the task related with this computer malfunctioning that generates high mental workload and, therefore, holds the greatest risk. Thus, the SHERPA human error identification and the NASA-TLX mental workload designation methodologies are presented along with a Hierarchical Task Analysis HTA as a first stage to the study. The results from SHERPA show one critical, occasional error; the results from NASA-TLX show mental demands as having highest score. Actions for human error prevention are also recommended.
With the vision to maintain leadership, enterprises are working to implement a green business str... more With the vision to maintain leadership, enterprises are working to implement a green business strategy. The increase in the solid waste generation has promoted interest in the remanufacturing production system, which is considered the best end-of-life (EoL) alternative. In Mexico, remanufacturing takes place mostly in small workshops, including products as electronics, auto parts, heavy-duty engines, gas turbines, and others. However, on the Northern Border are located industrialized remanufacturer companies with global presence, these are characterized by monitoring the indicators of sustainability. This article presents an exploratory study on the current remanufacturing scenario and its main characteristics within the Mexican remanufacturing sector. This research is an analysis of three transnational remanufacturing enterprises located in this region; it selected the metalworking industrial sector. The objective of this study is to identify the elements are integrating its produc...
IEEE Access, 2020
The work of Yolanda Baez-Lopez was support by the Programa para el Desarrollo Profesional Docente... more The work of Yolanda Baez-Lopez was support by the Programa para el Desarrollo Profesional Docente (PRODEP) (Estancias cortas de investigación).
Handbook of Research on Industrial Applications for Improved Supply Chain Performance, 2020
The purpose of this chapter is to present the relationship between the external service provider ... more The purpose of this chapter is to present the relationship between the external service provider named Third Party Logistics 3PL and the performance of the logistics process in Mexican manufacturing companies, in order to ascertain the contribution of the aspects considered, allowing companies' suggested improvement actions. Through a field research in Ciudad Juarez and making use of an instrument about 3PL, authors considered four variables: transport, transport management, information technologies, and warehouse. To find the causal model with the relationships between the variables, authors used structural equations modelling. That also identified the relevant aspects in 3PL providers companies' manufacturing and collaboration activities realized in the practice. The results indicate that mainly the information technologies and the transport management have a greater influence on the performance of the logistics process in this type of company.
Research Anthology on Changing Dynamics of Diversity and Safety in the Workforce, 2022
Companies are in constant search of greater productivity and better use of resources; however, th... more Companies are in constant search of greater productivity and better use of resources; however, they have neglected the human being. In this regard, it is important to analyze the presence of the psychosocial factors to which workers are exposed at all levels. These factors exert both a positive and a negative influence and indeed turn into a risk when they are not in balance with worker capabilities. This literature review aims to provide a comprehensive understanding of the psychosocial factors present in the manufacturing industries. The methodology consisted of conducting a search in two databases in addition to government pages. A combination of keywords was used for the search, and each publication was classified according to the factors analyzed, the type of evaluation, and the area of application. Out of all 2,468 publications found, eight were selected. Finally, work-related psychosocial factors were found to be the most analyzed.
IEEE Access, 2020
Work-related stress is one of the ten most frequent occupational health problems worldwide and pr... more Work-related stress is one of the ten most frequent occupational health problems worldwide and precedes a variety of serious mental disorders. It occurs when employees' capabilities fail to meet job demands or when their knowledge and skills are insufficient to comply with company expectations. The aim of this research was to evaluate the impact of working hours and burnout syndrome (BS) on the appearance of musculoskeletal discomfort (MSD) through three dimensions. A cross-sectional study was conducted on 472 middle and senior management staff in the industrial sector in Mexico. Structural Equation Modeling was used to evaluate the relationship between variables. The results showed that 54% of participants reported to be working a maximum of 48 hours a week, the four most frequent MSD occurring in the low back, upper back, neck and eyes. Regarding BS, 59.6% of the participants experienced it at levels ranging from medium to extreme. These findings showed that working hours have a direct impact on emotional exhaustion and indirectly affect MSD and the dimensions of professional efficacy and cynicism. In addition, discomfort in the upper back is directly associated to ailments in the low back and neck and indirectly, to discomfort in the eyes. This points to the need for a greater focus on developing specific measures to reduce or prevent musculoskeletal discomfort symptoms which result from employees' long working hours and emotional exhaustion. INDEX TERMS Burnout syndrome, musculoskeletal discomfort, structural equation modeling, working hours.
International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 2019
Due to globalization and the accelerated growth of technology, ever more employees of companies a... more Due to globalization and the accelerated growth of technology, ever more employees of companies are affected by burnout syndrome, the psychological nature of which requires a prolonged response to chronic interpersonal stressors in work environments. The present research aims to validate the operability of the Maslach Burnout Inventory-General Survey (MBI-GS) using a sample of 378 professionals belonging to middle and senior management working in companies within the IMMEX sector (comprising the industrial-manufacturing, maquiladora and export services) located in the state of Baja California, Mexico. Firstly, an exploratory factor analysis using the principal components method and Varimax rotation was performed and the results revealed the existence of three factors representing more than 67 percent of the total variance. Secondly, a confirmatory factorial analysis was carried out performing appropriate results for the indices Chi-square goodness-of-fit model, Root Mean Square Erro...
Ingeniería e Investigación, 2018
One of the main challenges in Macroergonomics is to develop a universal model to measure macroerg... more One of the main challenges in Macroergonomics is to develop a universal model to measure macroergonomic compatibility. As a first step to develop such model, it is necessary to validate the construct of macroergonomic compatibility (MC). MC refers to the ability of the different work system components and elements to complement the capabilities and limitations of employees in order to achieve companies’ goals. In that regard, to achieve this step, this paper analyzes the effects of MC of physical and psychological characteristics of employees over the performance of manufacturing systems measured by the clients, production processes, and the organizational performance of companies. Data was obtained from 188 employees of manufacturing systems by means of the Macroergonomic Compatibility Questionnaire (MCQ) in Chihuahua, Mexico. Also, data is analyzed to propose and test a hypothetical causal model of the relationships among the variables by using a Structural Equation Modeling (SEM)...
International Journal of Industrial Ergonomics, 2018
Macroergonomic compatibility (MC) refers to the extent to which macroergonomic factors and elemen... more Macroergonomic compatibility (MC) refers to the extent to which macroergonomic factors and elements interact positively with humans. Unfortunately, no research has ever developed an index to measure MC. To address this gap, we propose a macroergonomic compatibility index (MCI), validated among manufacturing work systems. MCI takes as basis the perceptions of middle and senior managers regarding the implementation of macroergonomic practices (MPs) in their companies. The data were collected through the macroergonomic compatibility questionnaire (MCQ), and such information was supplemented with the opinion of ergonomics experts to obtain the ideal weightings of the MPs analysed in the variables. The MCI was developed using dimensional analysis, and it includes an ideal solution. Due to their imprecise nature, macroergonomic variables were analysed through linguistic terms. To demonstrate the capability of our model, we used the MCI to measure the macroergonomic compatibility of manufacturing companies located in Chihuahua, Mexico. The results indicate that the MCI is an effective tool for measuring MC.
IISE Transactions on Occupational Ergonomics and Human Factors, 2017
Several manufacturing concerns in Mexico, as part of a broader effort to incorporate advanced man... more Several manufacturing concerns in Mexico, as part of a broader effort to incorporate advanced manufacturing technology, have replaced traditional machines with those using Computerized Numerical Control (CNC). As a result, workers have experienced new levels of workload and fatigue levels that have not been previously investigated in depth. Among a sample of over 400 CNC workers in Mexico, we found that workload has an important effect on the perception of
Strategic Human Capital Development and Management in Emerging Economies
Traditional methods for ergonomic evaluation do not consider the identification and assessment of... more Traditional methods for ergonomic evaluation do not consider the identification and assessment of mental tasks. This chapter proposes a method for the Identification and Assessment of Mental Tasks (IAMT) through the development of task flowcharts. Using a semi structured interview and a task flowchart, the mental tasks are identified and described. Applying the Cognitive Task Load Model (CTLM), a cognitive effect is assigned to every mental task identified. A theoretical/common example and a study case were developed to exemplify the proposed method. IAMT method was developed to be useful mainly in industrial environments; however, IAMT should be applied in different work contexts and environments.
Open Journal of Safety Science and Technology, 2016
The main objective of this research was to build a database on anthropometric features from a sam... more The main objective of this research was to build a database on anthropometric features from a sample of students enrolled in the Industrial Design program at the Universidad Autonoma de Ciudad Juarez (UACJ), to contrast anthropometric data with other Mexican regions, and to generate predictive models of the participants' body dimensions. A set of 36 body dimensions were measured based on international standards. Two anthropometric kits Rosscraft model Centurion were used for measurements. 140 students, 70 male and 70 female, enrolled in the Industrial Design program at the UACJ were measured. The values of mean, standard deviation, and percentiles were calculated. Besides, 26 predictive models of body segments were developed using simple linear regression. Body weight and stature of students in Northern Mexico are significant larger than people from other Mexican regions. We now hold anthropometric data of 36 body dimensions and 26 predictive models of body segments.
Sustainability, 2016
Companies seek to stand out from their competitors and react to other competitive threats. Making... more Companies seek to stand out from their competitors and react to other competitive threats. Making a difference means doing things differently in order to create a product that other companies cannot provide. This can be achieved through an innovation process. This article analyses, by means of a structural equation model, the current situation of Mexican maquiladora companies, which face the constant challenge of product innovation. The model associates three success factors for new product development (product, organization, and production process characteristics as independent latent variables) with benefits gained by customers and companies (dependent latent variables). Results show that, in the Mexican maquiladora sector, organizational characteristics and production processes characteristics explain only 31% of the variability (R 2 = 0.31), and it seems necessary to integrate other aspects. The relationship between customer benefits and company benefits explains 58% of the variability, the largest proportion in the model (R 2 = 0.58).
The International Journal of Advanced Manufacturing Technology, 2016
Companies currently are immersed in a highly competitive world; therefore, they must adopt contin... more Companies currently are immersed in a highly competitive world; therefore, they must adopt continuous process and product improvement techniques to remain in business and retain loyal customers. This paper presents the analysis of a medical device manufacturing company to determine what factors influence the length variation of plastic tubes in a cutting process. These tubes are part of intensive care sets; therefore, their length and diameter are critical features. Recently, products were rejected for not meeting the tube length specification, causing customer complaints regarding product quality. The Taguchi method was applied to find significant factors that determine the best configuration in the cutting process to approximate this quality characteristic to its desired target value. Important factors and their corresponding best levels were identified. After the proposed process adjustment was implemented, the process capability index (C pk) increased from 0.90 to 1.58, which indicated a considerable reduction in customer complaints and corresponding costs.
Sustainability, 2016
Usually, agricultural tractor investments are assessed using traditional economic techniques that... more Usually, agricultural tractor investments are assessed using traditional economic techniques that only involve financial attributes, resulting in reductionist evaluations. However, tractors have qualitative and quantitative attributes that must be simultaneously integrated into the evaluation process. This article reports a hybrid and multi-attribute approach to assessing a set of agricultural tractors based on AHP-TOPSIS. To identify the attributes in the model, a survey including eighteen attributes was given to agricultural machinery salesmen and farmers for determining their importance. The list of attributes was presented to a decision group for a case of study, and their importance was estimated using AHP and integrated into the TOPSIS technique. In this case, one tractor was selected from a set of six alternatives, integrating six attributes in the model: initial cost, annual maintenance cost, liters of diesel per hour, safety of the operator, maintainability and after-sale customer service offered by the supplier. Based on the results obtained, the model can be considered easy to apply and to have good acceptance among farmers and salesmen, as there are no special software requirements for the application.
Procedia Manufacturing, 2015
This research presents a design proposal for extremes where men and women perform similar tasks i... more This research presents a design proposal for extremes where men and women perform similar tasks in the same workstations. Within assembly lines hydraulic presses that allow to be adjusted to different heights are used. However, at the initial workstation of the cell production, a high fixed workstation is used. In addition, workers have to handle axis of different dimensions. For example, the shortest is 50 centimeters while the longest is 90 centimeters. Medical service department has received constant complaints from workers assigned to this workstation, which reported mostly musculoskeletal discomfort in shoulders, neck and back. The objective of this research is to develop a new workstation design that allows adjusting its dimensions according to the worker´s statures and part´s sizes used in the assembly lines. Ergonomic assessment was developed applying the Muscular Fatigue Assessment (MFA) and Biomechanics analysis before and after workstation implementation. The MFA method shows very high levels of ergonomic risk on shoulders, neck, back, and hands. While the biomechanical evaluation shows overload on shoulder (321%), elbow (490%), L5/S1 (518%), and hip (118%). A workstation that reduces risk levels from very high to medium is designed and also eliminates overloading in shoulder and ankle. This is confirmed by the methods of assessment after implementation of the new design workstation.
Procedia Manufacturing, 2015
Burnout syndromeis caused by chronic job stress and it is considered one of the main professional... more Burnout syndromeis caused by chronic job stress and it is considered one of the main professional diseases of XXI Century.In developing countries like Mexico, occupations asmiddle and senior manager positionshave not been sufficiently explored on this topic, especially in the industrial manufacturing sector.These personnel are fundamental for the growth of industries and usually must respond to high work demands, such as: short time decision making processes, extended working hours, personnel organization, production difficulties, among others. A sample of 361 participants was conformed; 34 were senior managers and 327middle managers fromseveral departments.The Maslach Burnout Inventory General-Survey (MBI-GS) was applied in six manufacturing companies in Ciudad Juarez.The Burnoutwas determined by grades and levels. Percentiles 33.3 and 66.6 were used as cut off pointsfor each dimension: Emotional Exhaustion, Cynicism and Professional Effectiveness,five levels of Burnout were determined as none, low, middle, fairly and extreme. Results indicate a middlegrade of Burnout for all three dimensions among senior and middle managers. By levels,46.26% presents fairly and extreme level, 15.51% have a middle level and 38.23 % presents none or low levels of Burnout. In conclusion, it is recommended that manufacturing industries take preventive actions that contribute to physical and mental health of their key workers.
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Papers by Aide Aracely Maldonado Macias