Applied ergonomics on the improvement of the present airport lugage cart

• Main Authors: Cantor, Rhea Grace S., Gomez, Maria Patricia A., Javellana, Pamela Anne G.
• Format: text
• Language: English
• Published: Animo Repository 2000
• Online Access: https://animorepository.dlsu.edu.ph/etd_bachelors/12071
• Institution: De La Salle University

Executive Summary. The porters use baggage cart as an aid in carrying baggages. The study is conducted to improve the present design of the airport baggage cart based on the needs and wants of the porters. QFD questionnaire was used as guide to determine the importance and satisfaction ratings that porters identified for a specific cart attribute. Porters from the Ninoy Aquino International Airport and Manila Domestic Airport were surveyed. The results of the survey showed that there is a need to redesign the card due to the dissatisfaction that porters expressed over the cart. It was revealed that the porters are greatly dissatisfied with the following cart attributes: (1) maneuverability, (2) ease of stopping, (3) weight of cart, (4) handle height, (5) basket dimensions, (6) base dimensions, and (7) base support. The study designed a new baggage cart that takes into consideration the needs and wants of the porters based on the QFD survey. The major component that was added into the cart was the provision of a base support that can be adjusted based on the size of the baggage. The improved design also took into consideration anthropometric measurements of porters for the handle height and diameter. Steel was chosen as the material to be used because it could withstand heavy loads. A brake system was provided to facilitate stopping of the cart. The base and basket dimensions were improved based on the load placed on the cart and the provision set by airline companies respectively. Upon validation, it was realized that the new design met the requirements of the porters, for upon comparison of the satisfaction ratings for the initial design against the proposed design, the latter proved to be significantly superior.