Research methodologies for assessing the ergonomics of packaging products - A review

Abstract

In today’s increasingly competitive market environment, new packaging must meet more requirements than before to meet customer expectations. The packaging must meet not only functional and aesthetic requirements but also ergonomic requirements to ensure satisfying user experience. An important issue in ergonomic design is the identification of factors that lead to user comfort and discomfort. The packaging is a product that undergoes manual manipulation and given the various forms of packaging and it's opening and closing systems, they require using different grip types and movements. Using packaging that is not well designed can cause intense physical exertion and frustration for users. The subject of this paper is a review of methodologies for assessing the ergonomics of packaging products. Methodologies for evaluating the ergonomic characteristics of packaging provide a proposal for structuring the investigation. Also, it gives a proposal for the proper prioritization of a packaging problem that should be identified as the most dangerous risks for physical injuries or for causing stressful situations to users. First, it is necessary to gain a clear insight into how the users handle the packaging in order to create knowledge and a clear idea of what is useful or harmful in the existing packaging design and to find the potential for its improvement. There are various methods for studying, analyzing and evaluating user experience while using a packaging. Combining such methods with knowledge of the anatomical structure of the body and how it reacts to the load enables the creation of efficient and ergonomically designed packaging. This paper will present methodologies and guidelines for assessing and improving the ergonomic qualities of packaging. The aim of this paper is to define the key factors and most relevant methodologies for conducting successful ergonomic research.

Consumer experiences and perception with reclosable pharmaceutical child resistant closures in Ghana, West Africa

“…Whilst CRCs safeguard children against drug intoxication, reported feedback indicates that consumers find difficulty using them. 4,5 Further studies have revealed CRCs openability challenges as a major problem faced by consumers especially the older generation, rheumatoid and osteoarthritis patients and even the general population in different regions around the globe. [4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11] The inability of some patients to open CRC packages in a controlled or safe manner has been attributed to inadequate, incomprehensible or misleading opening instructions.…”

“…4,5 Further studies have revealed CRCs openability challenges as a major problem faced by consumers especially the older generation, rheumatoid and osteoarthritis patients and even the general population in different regions around the globe. [4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11] The inability of some patients to open CRC packages in a controlled or safe manner has been attributed to inadequate, incomprehensible or misleading opening instructions. 7,12 Opening limitations have been indicated to prevent patients from accessing medications and result in their noncompliance, prohibiting the prescribed regimen from achieving maximal therapeutic benefit.…”

“…Consumer experiences and perceptions are often an indicator of whether they will return to a product or not. 4,5 Assessing the experiences and perceptions of consumers about a product is therefore necessary to ascertain the level of acceptance/satisfaction and also derive information to improve on the design. Consequently, despite the outstanding improvements in CRC in recent times, increment in annually reported cases of medicinal unintentional child poisoning and openability challenges among older adults requires continuous research into factors that affect its functionality in all the markets where they are used, including the West African sub-region.…”

“…Whilst CRCs safeguard children against drug intoxication, reported feedback indicates that consumers find difficulty using them 4,5 . Further studies have revealed CRCs openability challenges as a major problem faced by consumers especially the older generation, rheumatoid and osteoarthritis patients and even the general population in different regions around the globe 4–11 .…”

“…Generally, the sustained growth and utilization of any product can only be achieved through consumer satisfaction, which is influenced by the experiences and perceptions developed about the product. Consumer experiences and perceptions are often an indicator of whether they will return to a product or not 4,5 . Assessing the experiences and perceptions of consumers about a product is therefore necessary to ascertain the level of acceptance/satisfaction and also derive information to improve on the design.…”