Ergonomics as Significant Factor of Sustainable Production - Technology Management for Sustainable Production and Logistics - page 188

Sustainable development definition determines understanding of economics
basis in another way until now. The essence of economics according to balanced
development rules is taking into consideration into evaluation of decision making
process its influence on social as also natural environment in long-term perspective.
To fulfil that requirement or principle simultaneously analysis and implementation
of economic, ecologic and social processes should be done. First area is interpreted
as economics growth maintenance. Second area relates to protection of natural
resources and environment for future generations. The last area refers to compa-
nies responsibility for employees. For example companies should secure access
to work, food, medical care as also other issues. Important aspect from company
point of view is also approach to processes. Manufacturing process should not only
be associated with main production processes but also with supporting activities as
an example machine maintenance (Jasiulewicz-Kaczmarek 2013 ).
According to Westgard sustainable manufacturing system should be defined
in long-term perspective and refer to joint consideration of competitive efficiency
and working conditions (Westgaard and Winkel 2011 ).
Sustainable development in case of company often is associated with Corporate
Social Responsibility (CSR) and fact that companies as voluntarily takes into
consideration social interest, environment protection and relations with different
suppliers while company strategy creation.
Idea of CMR should be considered multidimensional with regard to many
factors, for example globalization, media growth as also competitiveness as also
social awareness increase. Hence, CSR shape and form of social responsibilities
presented in Table 1 in particular company are dependent on economic, political
and social aspects.
In literature based on Corporate Social Responsibility subject, issues relate to
functioning of big companies, concerns, small and micro companies as well (Gellert
2009 ). Research results presented in literature confirm that manufacturing compa-
nies in aspect of sustainable production more often try to implement proper practices
with the aim of securing health and work safety (Cleal 2009 ). European Agency for
Safety and Health at Work (EU-OSHA) with headquarter in Bilbao underline that
work safety is one of integral part of business social responsibility conception and
employees belong to key stakeholders of each organization (EU-OSHA 2012 ).
Aspects of challenges that relates to demographic issue cannot be left and not
discussed while indicating main trends important for business. Demographic fore-
cast describing an issue of UE communities aging (in 2060 almost every third
person among 517 million EU citizens will be 65 or even more) should cause
changing way of thinking about employees, their psychophysical abilities and
in sequence also working conditions adjustment to employee's needs (change of
work places ergonomics). Employers will need to manage adjustment of work
mode, work ranges as also equipment availability to needs of older employees
(Forum Odpowiedzialnego Biznesu 2014 ).
Recommendations given to companies that plan to release and execute assump-
tions of business social responsibilities with reference to employees include activi-
ties/actions as follows: