Journal of Engineering and Management in Industrial System
Vol. 14 No. 1 (2026)

ERGONOMIC-BASED PORTABLE CHAIRLESS CHAIR DESIGN TO REDUCE THE RISK OF MUSCULOSKELETAL DISORDERS IN STANDING WORKERS

Rozaqi, Alif Bakhrur (Unknown)
Abryandoko, Eko Wahyu (Unknown)
Farahdıansarı, Ardana Putrı (Unknown)



Article Info

Publish Date
25 Sep 2026

Abstract

Work-related Musculoskeletal Disorders (WMSDs) are musculoskeletal system disorders caused by unergonomic work activities and have a high prevalence in workers who stand for long periods. Static standing positions, repetitive movements, and the lack of ergonomic aids cause muscle fatigue and increase the risk of injury. One innovation to address this problem is the chairless chair, a portable sitting aid that allows workers to rest in a semi-sitting position without compromising mobility. This study aims to develop an ergonomics-based chairless chair design using the Rapid Upper Limb Assessment (RULA) and Pugh Concept Selection approaches. Initial evaluation of the working postures of 6 subjects showed that the majority of RULA scores were at high to very hight risk levels (scores 5–7). Based on the results of the user needs and work environment assessment, two alternative designs were developed and compared. Design A, which is ABS-based and features a lightweight telescopic feature, was selected as the best concept based on the Pugh evaluation score (score +7). The prototype of Design A was then produced and retested using the RULA method. The test results showed a significant decrease in all subjects' RULA scores, from an initial score of 5–7 to a final score of 3–4. This demonstrates the effectiveness of the chairless chair design in improving work posture and significantly reducing the risk of WMSDs. This research resulted in a practical, economical, and applicable ergonomic design for standing workers in the service sector, and can be further developed on an industrial scale.

Copyrights © 2026






Journal Info

Abbrev

jemis

Publisher

Subject

Industrial & Manufacturing Engineering

Description

Journal of Engineering and Management in Industrial System is a peer reviewed journal. The journal publishes original papers at the forefront of industrial and system engineering research, covering theoretical modeling, inventory, logistics, optimizations methods, artificial intelligence, bioscience ...