Ergonomic Workplace Design for Sustainable Competitive Advantages of Manufacturing Firms: A Case Study of Selected Metal Manufacturing Firms in Ethiopia
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Date
2026-02-01
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Addis Ababa University
Abstract
The current landscape of metal manufacturing has led most firms to focus primarily on functional and technological advancements, often neglecting the needs and preferences of their employees.
As a result, employees‘ roles tend to become static. Social value among workers is one key driver of competitiveness in modern manufacturing firms. There is a need to maintain the employees'
physical and cognitive well-being in order to guarantee greater competitiveness for the manufacturing firms. A shift from "task-oriented" to "employee-oriented" workplace design
results in revolutionary advantages for metal manufacturing firms in achieving sustainable competitive advantages. The inclusion of ergonomic principles in employee-oriented workplace
design improves the interaction between employees and non-employee elements and is critical in fuelling organizational competitiveness.
This dissertation employs a critical realist constructivist approach, positing that reality is socially constructed and encompasses multiple perspectives, rather than being solely an observed phenomenon. This informs the aim of this study to explain, interpret, and construct knowledge from various accounts.
The general objectives of this dissertation are to examine holistic ergonomic workplace design models that guarantee the well-being and innovation capability of employees and, as a
consequence, foster the development of sustainable competitive advantages for metal manufacturing firms. The research also aims to empirically investigate the impacts of ergonomic
risk factors on employees' well-being and capability for innovation and the role of ergonomic workplace design in the pathways to sustainable competitive advantage. In addition, proactive
tools and design strategies for ergonomic workplace design in this study are to be developed. The study employs both empirical and theoretical approaches with interplay between metal
manufacturing companies' ergonomic theory and practice.
The outcomes of the systematic literature review are that the causal determinants of work-related disorders in metal manufacturing companies are non-employee and employee attribute
mismatches in the workplace, suggesting the critical gap created by failure to consider all factors in the design stages.
Empirical research, conducted in sample metal manufacturing industries, utilized structural equation modelling (SEM) techniques. Information was collected through self-administered
closed-ended questionnaires from 219 experienced workers, managers, experts, and team leaders. Analysis methods included SPSS version 26 and Covariance-based Structural Equation Modelling (SEM), and SEM-PLS version 3. Field observation and interviews were also employed to collect information related to ergonomic workplace design in selected metal manufacturing firms.
The empirical analysis has confirmed that reducing physical ergonomic risk factors is associated with a decrease in the risk of musculoskeletal disorders (MSD) (β=0.264, P=0.00) and an
improvement in the innovation capability of employees (β=0.387, P=0.00). It was also observed that the prevalence of cognitive ergonomic risk factors reduces the innovation capability of
employees (β=-0.202, P=0.00). Addressing the underutilization of information and communication technology infrastructures also lowers the risk of musculoskeletal disorders
(β=0.357, P=0.00) and is associated with employees' capacity for innovation (β=0.387, P=0.00).
These findings demonstrate the substantial impact of these variables on the incidence of musculoskeletal conditions and workers' capacity for innovation in manufacturing companies.
Reducing the risks of musculoskeletal disorders also has an impact (β=0.336, P=0.00) on increasing the innovation capability of employees in manufacturing firms.
Besides, ergonomic workplace design significantly impacts cognitive well-being (β = 0.47, t = 6.1, P = 0.00), physical well-being (β = 0.36, t = 4.09, P = 0.00), and innovation capability (β =
0.30, t = 5.43, P = 0.00), and indirectly impacts the development of sustainable competitive advantages (β = 0.20, P = 0.00, (95% [0.13, 0.29]). The innovation capability of employees also
significantly impacts the development of sustainable competitive advantages (β = 0.66, t = 12.1, P = 0.00).
Taking into account the theory and empirical findings, proactive frameworks and design strategies for ergonomic workplace design have been developed to resolve the root causes of the existing gaps in ergonomics management literature and empirical manufacturing findings. These include Workfit-Lever, Ergonomic Function Deployment (EFD) frameworks, the Development of
Sustainable Competitive Advantages formula, and other algorithms for designing an ergonomic workplace in manufacturing firms.
In summary, this study highlights the critical role that ergonomic workspace design plays in launching a more innovative and healthy working environment by integrating ergonomic risk
factors, workers' well-being, and innovation capability. The proactive measures and design principles described provide a guide for putting ergonomic best practices into practice and
preventing work-related disorders. Subsequent research is encouraged to continue elaborating on the intricate interconnections and potentialities of constructing sustainable competitive advantages in metal manufacturing firms.
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Keywords
Competitive advantage, ergonomic risk factors, ergonomic function deployment, employee well-being, employee-centric workplace, proactive ergonomics, innovation capability, manufacturing industry, musculoskeletal disorders, workfit-lever