APPLICATION OF THE RULA METHOD FOR ERGONOMIC ANALYSIS OF A SUPPLY CHAIN AND PURCHASING MANAGEMENT DEPARTMENT: CASE STUDY IN A THERMOPLASTIC MATERIALS COMPANY

Abstract

According to the current scenario, companies are increasingly concerned about the health of their employees. In this context, the purpose of the described article is to apply the rula method for ergonomic analysis of a supply chain and purchasing management department, in a thermoplastic materials company. A case study was carried out, which allowed identifying situations in the supply chain and purchasing management department. These situations involved manual activities with involved postures and those related to heavy materials, resulting in reduced productivity and increased rates of absence due to work-related illnesses. The RULA method used consists of postural analysis of the lower and upper limbs. The activity made it possible to verify each activity carried out by the employee, making it possible to identify the angulations performed at each stage, so the values ​​were inserted in the tables referring to the RULA method, obtaining the ergonomic level in the supply chain and purchasing management department. The results obtained when applying the method are classified at level 4, where there is a need for immediate actions in the department studied, as working conditions already affect the employee's health. According to the score obtained, a set of actions was proposed for immediate correction in the supply chain and purchasing management department.