Progressive Grocer - April 2010 - (Page 102)

Foodservice A sampling of the latest advances No Strain, No Pain Ergonomic considerations are high on foodservice equipment manufacturers’ lists of design specifications. By Bob Ingram E 102 xperienced and productive associates in supermarket foodservice areas are even more valuable in these recessionary times, and time lost on the job due to ergonomically related causes can lower productivity and raise labor costs. foodservice equipment. AccuTemp’s Stanley points out that that there’s always a delicate balance between features and cost, and that the best designs are simple ones, which can be the most cost-effective to maintain and develop. He notes that “the staffing for a specialty discipline like ergonomics is very dependent on the size of the company This being the case, foodservice equipment makers cast an especially keen eye toward ergonomics when designing their equipment. To illustrate the concept’s importance, Dean Stanley, VP of engineering at Fort Wayne, Ind.-based AccuTemp Products, Inc., passes on the Merriam-Webster definition of ergonomics: “The applied science concerned with designing and arranging things people use so that people and things interact most efficiently and safely.” “Injuries and hazards that can be prevented by proper ergonomics on our equipment are burning, bending down to use a unit, fatigue due to repetitive movements, and unease of reach for feeding and retrieving products,” adds Bhupendra Patel, product development team leader at Carol Stream, Ill.-based A.J. Antunes & Co. At Troy, Ohio-based Hobart, both John Van’t Slot, Hobart Slicing’s business development manager, and Duane Shomler, Hobart Mixing’s business development manager, agree that ergonomic design principles play a major role in the design of Hobart Hobart slicers have been designed to reduce shoulder fatigue in users. • Progressive Grocer • April 2010 A H E A D O F W H AT ’ S N E X T www.progressivegrocer.com http://www.progressivegrocer.com

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Progressive Grocer - April 2010

Progressive Grocer - April 2010
Table of Contents
Nielsen’s Shelf Stoppers/Spotlight: Baby Needs/Baby Powder
The Lempert Report: Ways to Improve the Nutrition Facts Panel
Best Practices: The Employee Satisfaction, Productivity and Profit Connection
State of the Industry Report: Looking Up, Cautiously
Store of the Month: Standing Ovation
GMA President’s Note: Tackling Obesity: A New Blueprint for Success
Natural Meat: Where Was the Beef?
Produce: Swinging Springtime Sales
Beverage Alcohol: The Case for Beer
Breakfast Foods: The Start of Something Big
Dairy: Probiotics in Dairy and Frozen: A Healthy Pursuit
Baby Care: The Dry Season
Pet Care and Supplies: Where the Margin Is
Case Study: King of the Jungle
Tech Toolbox: A Look at the Latest Solutions
Foodservice: No Strain, No Pain
Sustainability: Green Energy is Blooming
What’s Next: Editors’ Picks for Innovative Products

Progressive Grocer - April 2010