As part of the Human Factors course and lab, an essential component of the industrial engineering curriculum, this project provided hands-on experience in applying instrumentation, methods, and software relevant to human factors and ergonomics. The course emphasizes designing work environments that align with workers' physical, psychological, biomechanical, and cognitive capabilities to optimize safety, comfort, and productivity. To achieve this, we conducted an experiment that examined how music influences physical performance, fatigue perception, and engagement during a repetitive lifting task. This study incorporated human factors principles by assessing how an external stimulus, such as music, can enhance task efficiency and worker well-being.

The goal of this project was to evaluate whether listening to music during a lifting task impacts physical performance and perceived exertion. Participants completed a standardized lifting task both in silence and with music, while surveys captured demographic information and subjective fatigue levels using the Borg Rating of Perceived Exertion scale. Data analysis revealed that music led to increased task completion rates and reduced perceived exertion, reinforcing its potential as a workplace performance enhancer. These findings align with prior research on the psychological and physiological benefits of music in physically demanding tasks.

Overall, this project highlights the importance of integrating human factors principles into workplace design by demonstrating how simple interventions like music can positively influence productivity and worker well-being. While limitations exist, such as environmental factors and individual differences, this study provides a foundation for further research on optimizing work environments through ergonomic and psychological considerations. A more detailed analysis of our methodology, findings, and implications can be found in the accompanying PowerPoint presentation and full report below.