You all know it, I’m sure. Some number of blind men (some stories say three, some more) all give different descriptions of an elephant based on their limited tactile knowledge of the subject. Well I see a similarity between these stories and companies’ willingness to follow a Wellness strategy or a Six Sigma strategy in order to improve productivity, reduce the drain on resources due to errors, or illness.
Ergonomics encompasses the strategies of both programs: a true ergonomics program focuses the human as the center of the analysis. Think of it as the synergy of wellness and six sigma. a strategy for balancing the needs of the corporation with the needs of the employees. Many times, recommendations have less to do with the physical arrangement of the workstation, and more to do with helping the employees involved work within the constraints of their work system: they maximize their productivity, minimize their risk for error or injury, and become responsible for their own well-being while at work.
An Ergonomist is someone who steps back far enough to see the whole elephant, and then comes in to get the details.
Practical Ergonomics 