Young Talent Award 2018
Award Ceremony for the Young Talent Award of the “Verein der Freunde und Ehemaligen des Instituts für Arbeitswissenschaft der RWTH Aachen University e.V” (Association of Friends and Alumni of the Institute of Industrial Engineering and Ergonomics at RWTH Aachen University e.V.)
The IAW – Institut für Arbeitswissenschaft (Institute of Industrial Engineering and Ergonomics) – is pleased to announce that the students Ms. Laura Johnen and Mr. Florens Burgert have been awarded the Young Talent Award of the “Verein der Freunde und Ehemaligen des Instituts für Arbeitswissenschaft der RWTH Aachen University e.V.” (Association of Friends and Alumni of the Institute of Industrial Engineering of RWTH Aachen University e.V.) for each of their outstanding Master's and Bachelor's thesis. The award ceremony was held by the 1st chairman of the association, Dr. Christian Foltz.
Short Description of the Awarded Students and Their Final Theses
Ms. Laura Johnen M.Sc. RWTH
The title of Ms. Johnen’s master thesis is “Empirische Laborstudie zur Analyse der Interaktion von statischen Körperteilhaltungen mittels Motion Capture und physiologischer Erfassung der körperlichen Beanspruchung“ (Empirical Laboratory Study to Analyze the Interaction of Static Body Part Postures by Means of Motion Capture and Physiological Recording of Physical Strain). The aim of this master’s thesis was to obtain empirical data in order to quantify interactions of different body part postures and the resulting physical strain and thus to be able to prevent work-related musculoskeletal disorders. For this purpose, the physical strain of 24 people was recorded and evaluated during 19 static postures. The physical stress was determined in accordance with Rohmert's inductive stress determination method in a bottleneck-oriented manner by recording the muscle activity and stress sensation. The hypotheses were predominantly confirmed. Physical strain increases with growing distance from the neutral zero position, and interactions between body part postures are reflected in physical strain. In addition, the work clarified that the level of detail of stress assessment methods used in practice sometimes is too low.
Mr. Florens Burgert B.Sc. RWTH
The thesis of Mr. Florens Burgert is entitled “Erfassung der Komplexität der Arbeit von Montageteams” (Capturing the Complexity of the Work of Assembly Teams). The aim of this thesis was to develop a methodology for measuring complexity. Starting point for this development were existing complexity models and overviews of complexity drivers, which were analyzed in the context of work for assembly teams and consolidated with regard to relevant complexity types, categories and complexity drivers. Based on this, suitable methods for measuring complexity in said context were identified and adapted for the work of assembly teams. The final result of Mr. Burgert's bachelor thesis is a questionnaire which captures and quantifies complexity and its drivers in the work of assembly teams by means of a suitable model.