Functional Sewing Workstation Design by Analyzing Male Bangladeshi Anthropometric Measurement in the Ready-Made...

This study analyzes the anthropometric dimensions of Bangladeshi male sewing machine operators and their application in designing ergonomic workstations for the ready-made garments (RMG) industry. A cross-sectional anthropometric survey was conducted among 155 male sewing machine operators aged 18-30 years from a garment factory in Tangail, Bangladesh. A total of 44 body dimensions were measured in standing and sitting postures using standard anthropometric instruments. Descriptive statistics, comprising mean, standard deviation, and specific percentile values, were computed to inform preliminary workstation design decisions. Ergonomic risk was assessed using rapid upper limb assessment (RULA) and Rapid Entire Body Assessment (REBA) methods on the basis of observed and proposed posture. Results indicate a mismatch between existing workstation design and operator anthropometric measurements. The proposed workstation decreased RULA scores from 6-7 to 3-4 and REBA scores from 8-9 to 4-5, resulting in increased worker comfort, diminished injury risks, and enhanced ergonomic conditions. However, because of the small sample size and lack of experimental validation, the findings should be considered preliminary. The research establishes a preliminary anthropometric benchmark for subsequent ergonomic design and extensive validation studies within the Bangladeshi RMG sector.