Cummins Team: Mealaktey Sok, Margaret Parks, Piper Thompson, Bailey Butterworth
2023-2024: In collaboration with Cummins Valvetrain Technologies (CVT), this student team designed ergonomic improvements for several manufacturing operations at their facility in Bloomfield, CT. The project is part of an ongoing effort at CVT to reduce the risk of ergonomic injuries for their operators.
The team analyzed multiple tasks in the manufacturing workflow labeled as high-priority due to their high ergonomic risk as assessed by Velocity EHS software, and selected two on which to focus: paper roll changing and package processing. For both focus areas, the team designed, prototyped, tested, refined, and ultimately verified their design recommendations. The paper roll redesign includes elevated arms, handles, weaving device, and an updated system workflow; it has already been implemented effectively at CVT. The package processing redesign includes short-term and long-term solutions of lifters, racks, a potential facility renovation, and updated system workflows. The team’s deliverables (functional designs, economic analyses, and standard operating procedures) contribute to reducing ergonomic risk at CVT enabling operators to complete tasks successfully and safely.