Slide1: Ergonomics: a bridge between research and production, universities and enterprises European University-Industry Network Tallinn, 4-6 May 2006 by Alessandra Millevolte, Massimo Mustica Laboratorio delle Idee, Italy


Slide2: European University-Industry Network Tallinn, 4-6 May 2006 Laboratorio delle Idee Fabriano - Italy Small enterprise (3 partners, 8 employees, 10 collaborators) built in 1992, producing services and products in the fields of training (traditional and innovative), e-learning, mobile learning, multimedia communication, software development for distance learning.


Slide3: European University-Industry Network Tallinn, 4-6 May 2006 Laboratorio delle Idee Fabriano - Italy We are located in an small medieval town, in the center of the most important industrial pole of central Italy (e.g.INDESIT and ARISTON industries)


Slide4: Ergonomics: a bridge between research and production, universities and enterprises OUR POINT OF VIEW ON THE SUBJECT our role our perspective (a particular one)


Slide5: Ergonomics: a bridge between research and production, universities and enterprises THE FOCUS OF THIS WORKSHOP How to match University resources and productive world’s needs of applied research


Slide6: Ergonomics: a bridge between research and production, universities and enterprises A DEFINITION OF ERGONOMICS “Ergonomics is the scientific discipline concerned with the understanding of the interactions among human and other elements of a system, and the profession that applies theory, principles, data and methods to design in order to optimize human well-being and overall system performance". (I.E.A., 2000)


Slide7: Ergonomics: a bridge between research and production, universities and enterprises ERGONOMICS: A METHODOLOGICAL APPROACH TO THE PROJECT Globality (systemic-gestaltic vision) Interdisciplinarity Participation


Slide8: Ergonomics: a bridge between research and production, universities and enterprises WHY ERGONOMICS Ergonomics is an added value of the products, useful for competitiveness of Italian (and European) enterprises in this period of global competition Interdisciplinarity requested by an ergonomic project matches the wideness of universitary knowledge and resources Ergonomics involves consumers, producers, researchers.


Slide9: Ergonomics: a bridge between research and production, universities and enterprises THE STATE OF ART IN ITALY Società Italiana di Ergonomia (founded in 1961) Close interaction Italian ergonomics - academic world - big industries Arising of “ergonomic request” from SMEs SMEs often percept Ergonomics is percept as expensive and elitist


Slide10: Ergonomics: a bridge between research and production, universities and enterprises EMERGING TRENDS IN ITALIAN ERGONOMICS an elitist attitude toward research inside universities; usual in public institution; its concrete expression is a theoretical speculation about the professional profile of the ergonomist and his social role. a private and entrepreneurial approach; more recent.


Slide11: Ergonomics: a bridge between research and production, universities and enterprises ERGONOMICS RESEARCH BETWEEN UNIVERSITY AND ENTERPRISE UNIVERSITY Cognitive ergonomics SME, PRIVATE INITIATIVES Concrete projects of concept and correcting ergonomics


Slide12: Ergonomics: a bridge between research and production, universities and enterprises EXAMPLES OF GOOD PRACTICES ERGOLAB (Udine, Northern Italy) IPSE (Ancona, Central Italy)


Slide13: Ergonomics: a bridge between research and production, universities and enterprises ERGONOMICS RESEARCH BETWEEN UNIVERSITY AND ENTERPRISE Ergonomics is nothing more than common sense becoming a method of problem setting and problem solving. But public institutions and common people still have the perception that ergonomics is for very few, just a tool for scientists.


Slide14: Ergonomics: a bridge between research and production, universities and enterprises ERGONOMICS RESEARCH BETWEEN UNIVERSITY AND ENTERPRISE Ergonomics must prove to be a cultural and operational tool for everybody. Programmes and initiatives of ergonomic familiarisation must bridge the gap between “academical” ergonomics and ergonomics “for all”


Slide15: Ergonomics: a bridge between research and production, universities and enterprises PROBLEMS AND PERSPECTIVES We think that ergonomics must prove to be a cultural and operational tool for everybody: from the entrepreneur to the housewife, the teacher, the worker, the shop assistant, the tourist, etc.


Slide16: Ergonomics: a bridge between research and production, universities and enterprises PROBLEMS AND PERSPECTIVES Concrete projects of ergonomics dissemination are needed. In this respect, University has a fundamental role as disseminator and driver not only of knowledge but above all of a cultural change


Slide17: Ergonomics: a bridge between research and production, universities and enterprises PROBLEMS AND PERSPECTIVES Enterprises and Universities must both invest in ergonomics. This means to make products more competitive in our markets, because more appreciated (more quality, more safety, more comfort and satisfaction in using them)


Slide18: Ergonomics: a bridge between research and production, universities and enterprises PROBLEMS AND PERSPECTIVES Consortia between local enterprises and universities and/or private laboratories could be a good practice to improve the dissemination of the ergonomic approach in design and production, in order to increase human well-being and enterprises’ competitiveness and ability to face changes and challenges of global market.