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Human Factors and Ergonomics: Contribution to Sustainability and Decent Work in Global Supply Chains

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Ergonomics and Human Factors for a Sustainable Future

Abstract

Globalisation and digitisation of value creation pose new challenges regarding sustainability and decent work. This chapter discusses possible contributions Human Factors and Ergonomics (HFE) can provide with regard to these challenges. It is our aim to show that although HFE already offers results of extensive research, it is also important to further its development in order to be prepared for dealing with the challenges and opportunities in this field. These range from updating the normative mindset of HFE to broadening its modelling approaches and to developing curricula and cooperation with key actors.

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Notes

  1. 1.

    Corporate social responsibility is defined as the responsibility of an enterprise for its impacts on society (European Commission, 2011).

  2. 2.

    According to the OECD Due Diligence Guidance for Responsible Supply Chains of Minerals, conflict minerals are defined as minerals mined in conflict-affected and high-risk areas, “identified by the presence of armed conflict, widespread violence or other risks of harm to people” (OECD, 2013, p. 13). The list of conflict minerals includes the ores of tin, tantalum and tungsten, as well as gold (OECD, 2013).

  3. 3.

    In the so-called Dodd-Frank Act, conflict minerals are defined due to their origin from the Democratic Republic of the Congo or an adjoining country (U.S. Government Publishing Office, 2010, p. 2218).

  4. 4.

    German Society for International Cooperation.

  5. 5.

    https://www.we-socialquality.com.

  6. 6.

    Deutscher Crowdsourcing Verband e.V.

  7. 7.

    See http://www.crowdsourcing-code.com.

  8. 8.

    https://turkopticon.ucsd.edu/.

  9. 9.

    http://www.iea.cc/project/project_equid.html.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institut für Technologie und Arbeit e.V., Center for Human Factors, University of Kaiserslautern, Kaiserslautern, Germany

    Klaus J. Zink & Klaus Fischer

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  1. Klaus J. Zink
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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Psychology Department, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa

    Andrew Thatcher

  2. School of Business, Monash University Malaysia, Bandar Sunway, Malaysia

    Paul H.P. Yeow

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Zink, K.J., Fischer, K. (2018). Human Factors and Ergonomics: Contribution to Sustainability and Decent Work in Global Supply Chains. In: Thatcher, A., Yeow, P. (eds) Ergonomics and Human Factors for a Sustainable Future. Palgrave Macmillan, Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-10-8072-2_10

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