Have you ever visited a vehicle assembly plant to see how vehicles such as the Ford F-150 are made? If so, you may have noticed the fact that cars are often run along the assembly line in an elevated manner with workers underneath adding parts and items to the underside of the vehicle in different locations. In order to ensure these workers are able to get the job done, the vehicles have to be up in the air to a place that a person can be comfortable standing underneath, but this has its own challenges when it’s time to put items on the vehicle that’s elevated in the air.
The job that a person has underneath a vehicle is to lift their arms up and put items on the vehicle. If you were asked to put dishes on a high shelf or change an overhead lightbulb, that wouldn’t be a problem, but if you had to do this up to 4,600 times a day your arms, shoulders, and neck would get extremely tired and sore. Thankfully, Ford has found a solution to this problem in order to make the experience better for their team in order to make it possible for their team to be efficient and to reduce injuries.
What has Ford Created
The new technology that’s been used for the past couple years by Ford is called the EksoVest which is a wearable technology that can reduce the number of injuries and the fatigue felt while working on the vehicles as they ride down the assembly line. Since 2005 the incidents and injuries have dropped up to 83 percent to be the lowest rate on record in 2016 from Ford. The inclusion of the new EksoVest is a contributing factor to making the work better and allowing the team at the Dearborn, MI plant to be able to get the job done.
The new EksoVest is a wearable technology that’s worn outside of the clothes and is made to elevate and support a worker’s arms when they are performing overhead tasks. With the fact these workers can have to perform the same overhead task up to one million times a year, this can be a huge benefit. This item is made to fit those who range from five feet to 6 feet 4 inches tall and offers an adjustable lift assistance that ranges from five to 15 pounds per arm. The EksoVest is lightweight and makes it possible for arms to continue to move freely.
This new item has improved the health and safety of the Ford plants that have used this technology to get the job done. With fewer days missed on the assembly line and the ability to work longer and faster without a needed break, the employees are able to be more comfortable and more efficient when they wear the EksoVest to get the job done. Those that once went home with sore arms, shoulders, and necks are now able to enjoy their time after work without the pain they once felt.
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