Ergonomics for distribution centers:
2019-2021. Identifying Ergonomics Best Practices Currently Used by Grocery Distribution Centers – this project is funded by the Ohio Occupational Safety and Health Research Program.
2009-2010. The goals of the project were to 1) work with safety and health professionals and distribution center order fillers to identify top issues related to physical exertion in order filling work and other material handling jobs in DCs, and then to develop and/or identify interventions to reduce the level of physical exertion and injury risk associated with these jobs, and 2) initiate the Distribution Ergonomics Research Center (DERC) at OSU. This project was sponsored by the Material Handling Industry of America (MHIA).
- Lavender, S. A., Ko, P. L., & Sommerich, C. M. (2013) Biomechanical evaluation of the Eco-Pick lift assist: A device designed to facilitate product selection tasks in distribution centers. Applied Ergonomics, 44, 230-236.
Biomechanics of torque tool operation:
2007-2017. Beginning as a joint effort with researchers from OSU’s Department of Mechanical Engineering, this line of research has investigated new models and methods for assessing and describing biomechanical responses of torque tool operators, with special attention to DC torque tools and controller algorithms. (Portions of this research were sponsored by Honda of America Manufacturing and the Honda-OSU Partnership). The Ohio Bureau of Workers Compensation funded a new research project (2015-2017) to extend this line of work to support the development of a tool rig to dynamically assess torque tools.
- Ay, H., Sommerich, C. M., & Luscher, A. (2013). Linear Modeling of Human Hand-Arm Dynamics Relevant to Right-Angle Torque Tool Interaction. Human Factors, 55(5), 893-910.
- Ay, H., Luscher, A., Sommerich, C., & Berme, N. (2013). Nonlinear model-based estimation of hand-arm reaction force in powered torque tool use. Paper presented at the 37th Annual Meeting of the American Society of Biomechanics, Omaha, Nebraska.
- Ay, H. (2011). Linear and Nonlinear Models of Human Hand-Arm Dynamics and Torque Tool Interaction. The Ohio State University, Columbus.
- Ay H, Sommerich CM, Luscher AF, Gumpina R. 2010. Assessment of Arm Dynamics in Experienced Workers While Operating Right-Angle Torque Tools, Proceedings of the 2010 Annual Meeting of the American Society of Biomechanics, Providence RI.
- Ay H, Luscher AF, Sommerich CM, Gumpina R. 2010. Biodynamic Modeling and Physical Capacity Assessment of Human Arm Response in Experienced Torque Tool Operators, Proceedings of the 2010 Annual Meeting of the American Society of Biomechanics, Providence RI.
- Sommerich CM, Gumpina R, Roll SC, Le P, Chandler DF. 2009. Investigating effects of controller algorithm on torque tool operators. Proceedings of the 2009 Industrial Engineering Research Conference, Miami: Institute for Industrial Engineering.
- Johnson M, Vandlen K, Hutter E, Gahlot R, Yen W-T, Kommini S, Sommerich CM. 2008. Comparing the effects of two controller algorithms on DC torque tool operators. Proceedings of the 52nd Annual Meeting of the Human Factors and Ergonomics Society, New York City: The Human Factors and Ergonomics Society.
Biomechanical assessment of cake decorating:
- Sommerich CM, Lavender SA, Asmus A, Chany A-M, Parakkat J, Yang G. 2005. Bakery: Cake decorating process. In: Marras W, Karwowski W editors. The Occupational Ergonomics Handbook, Interventions, Controls and Applications in Occupational Ergonomics, Boca Raton: CRC Taylor & Francis. p 48: 41-14.