Universal design of workplaces - manual assembly

Important results from the project

Universal design is important for equal social sustainability. In UUAAMM, we have developed inclusive workplaces for industrial assembly. A general objective was to develop a model for "universal work design for manual work that cost-effectively makes workplaces available to people with functional variation for the benefit of all involved" in line with SDG 8.5. The work that has been adapted has implied limitations for some people. The lessons have been conceptualized in a general "Design for inclusive work - DIW model" to facilitate dissemination.

Expected long term effects

The project results have meant that Husmuttern has gone from a pilot scale to employing more people in collaboration with Arbetsförmedlingen, AMA and SIUS. They now offer contract manufacturing with people far from the labor market together with EQpack, a packaging supplier. During the pandemic, they developed cost-effective production of PPE. RISE will continue spreading the DIA model, in projects and development programs. As side effect, learnings on digitalisation and visualization as support for social sustainability will be able to be incorporated into the Production Leap.

Approach and implementation

Through interviews and observations, we have analyzed and further developed Husmuttern´s system with Lean methodology (eg poka yoke) and digital visualization where people with varying languages and without previous industrial experience have been included in a safe industrial working life. The workstations have a high degree of visualization and digitalization but a low degree of automation and mechanization and the system is dependent on social principles and an inclusive culture and operations management. The societal gain remains to be quantified.