Business Process Reengineering (BPR) literature is based primarily on case studies and there is a lack of rigorous wide-ranging empirical research covering all its aspects. This paper presents the results of a survey research carried out in 73 medium and large-sized Slovenian manufacturing companies. Seven crucial areas were identified based on a synthesis of BPR literature, which must be practised to achieve effective process reengineering: management commitment, education & training, team work, BPR project characteristics, employee cooperation, information technology support, and levers & results. Variables have been constructed within these areas, using Likert scales, and statistical validity and reliability analyses. These developed variables can be important both for understanding BPR and in terms of the descriptive statistics, also reported in this paper. What emerges is the crucial importance of process orientation, goal setting, and top management commitment. Furthermore, these variables can be helpful for further research aimed at investigating BPR and its linkages with other areas, such as strategy, performance measurement, etc.

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Smart glasses are a kind of Head Mounted Display (HMD) with great potential in Industry 4.0 working environments, where shop floor workers must be supplied with critical information in a timely, accessible and safe manner to be as productive as possible. Smart glasses collect data from a wireless network and project it on a tiny screen before the user's eye. Despite several benefits, such as hands-free access to computer-generated info, routeing to storage locations, eliminating the need to carry handheld scanners or written documents, there are also possible problems evidenced from the literature. HMD can cause headaches, pressure in the eyes, problems with focusing and difficulties with text reading. To study the addressed problems, a research was performed together with Ophthalmologists from Maribor Healthcare Centre. The effects of using Vuzix M300 Smart glasses on users' comfort during order picking activities were researched in a testing warehouse environment at the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, Maribor. The testing period lasts four hours. Several ophthalmologic tests (visual acuity, contrast sensitivity, visual field testing and colour test) were performed before and after use of smart glasses. Results show that there are some statistically significant differences before and after use of smart glasses in users' visual acuity and, surprisingly, a high percentage of scotomas in the right eye (where the projection of smart glasses was performed) after use of smart glasses that cannot be overlooked.

Despite lean thinking being a broadly accepted approach, there is still some confusion within present terminology regarding 'lean' and its issues. This paper presents the results of a research survey carried out within 72 medium and large-sized Slovenian manufacturing companies. The sample selection criteria adopted, together with the research items investigated, ensured a generic framework for our research. Eight crucial areas were identified based on a synthesis of 'lean' literature for assessing and measuring the degree of lean implementation within existing manufacturing systems: value concept and customers, value stream mapping (VSM), pull/kanban and flow, waste elimination, productive maintenance, just-in-time (JIT), employee involvement and the development of excellent suppliers (lean suppliers). Variables were constructed within these areas using Likert scales, and statistical validity and reliability analyses. For example, when measuring the developments of excellent suppliers the focus should be on three variables: on time deliveries, supplier relationships, and a skilled and loyal supplier. The results show that the developed variables can be important both for understanding 'lean' and measuring the degree of lean implementation within existing manufacturing systems.

Generally, noise is a considerable stress factor in several workplaces and living environments. Despite legal regulations and recommendations, there are still many problems resulting from noise exposure, especially extra-aural effects. We studied the influence of noise on workers in two different environments: A Technical High School and a manufacturing company. Measurements of noise levels were performed, together with corresponding noise frequency analysis. In both cases, working places were found where the noise levels exceeded the upper exposure level of 85 dB (A). In comparison to measurements, personal noise perceptions of workers were assessed by an extended research survey. Correlating the survey's results and experimentally determined noise levels gave us new insights into the occupational health risks of noise in two very different working environments.

In the time of Industry 4.0, the dynamic adaptation of companies to global market demands plays a key role in ensuring sustainable financial and time justification. Financial accessibility, a wide range of user-friendliness, and credible results of the visual computing methods and data-driven simulation modeling enable a higher degree of usability in small, medium, and large enterprises. This paper presents an innovative method for modelling and simulating workplaces in manufacturing based on visual data captured with a spherical camera. The presented approach uses simulation scenarios to investigate the optimization of manual or collaborative workplaces. We evaluated and compared three simulated scenarios, the results of which highlight the potential for improvement regarding manufacturing productivity and cost. In addition, ergonomic analyses of a manual assembly workplace were performed using existing evaluation metrics. The results show the possibility of creating a three-dimensional model of a workplace captured with a spherical camera, which not only describes the model dimensionally but also adds terminological and other production parameters obtained through the analysis of manufacturing system videos. The confirmation of the appropriateness of introducing collaborative workstations is also confirmed by ergonomic analyses Ovaco working analyzing system (OWAS) and rapid upper limb assessment (RULA), which demonstrate the sustainable limits of manual assembly workplaces.

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The number of work-related musculoskeletal disorders has been increasing in most industries and occupations. Since these injuries impose high costs on employers and society it is important to prevent it through ergonomic assessment and job redesign. The paper presents a research of the workplace ophthalmic nurse regarding strain and stress. In the workplace the Intravenous Fluorescein angiography or fluorescent angiography is made which is a technique for examining the circulation of the retina and choroids using a fluorescent dye and specialized camera. The working procedure is complex and since nurses must assist in several forced positions for longer time ergonomic analyses were made aimed to determine strain and stress at workplace. For assessment of body postures OWAS analysis was performed manually and using computer simulation. The results obtained using computer simulations are comparable to manually performed research for most body positions except for bent and twisted back. Body postures of upper limb, lower limb and neck were exposed as harmful for nurse during working procedure and according to OWAS changes are needed in near future.