Episode 6: Show Notes
Welcome back to another episode of the TuMeke Ergonomics Podcast with host Dr. Matt Jeffs. In this episode, we sit down with Jenny Zhao, CPE (Certified Professional Ergonomist), Ergonomics Subject Matter Expert (SME) at TuMeke Ergonomics, to unpack the interdisciplinary nature of the field and her holistic approach to ergonomics. Jenny's passion lies in exploring the intersection of human experience and design, both in digital and physical spaces. With over a decade of experience, she has developed her skills in creating designs that prioritize not only aesthetic appeal but also functionality, usability, and safety.
In our conversation, Jenny shares her unconventional journey into ergonomics, stemming from her background in human ecology. Discover how her interdisciplinary interest led her to the fascinating world of ergonomics and why she finds its study crucial in our daily lives. We unpack the varied nature of ergonomics and its intersections with fields like psychology. We delve into Jenny's groundbreaking concept of holistic ergonomics and how her diverse career background shaped her perspective. Discover the role of technology in revolutionizing ergonomics and workplace safety, how technology is making the field more accessible, the ecology of ergonomics, and much more. Tune in for a fascinating conversation as we unravel the complexities and possibilities of ergonomics with Jenny Zhao!
Key Points From This Episode:
[01:12] Jenny’s non-traditional career journey into ergonomics.
Hear about her background in human ecology and how this led her to the field of ergonomics.
Why she finds the interdisciplinary nature of the field interesting and the importance of ergonomics as a field of study.
[06:19] We unpack the interdisciplinary nature of ergonomics and why it is important.
Delve into the broader concept of ergonomics, how it is relevant to all aspects of our daily lives, and how it cuts into other fields like psychology.
[09:24] Challenges and lessons from her professional career.
She shares the many challenges she has faced in her career. From applying theoretical concepts as a practitioner to working with clients resistant to change to embracing the interpersonal aspects of ergonomics, she shares the hurdles she has had to overcome.
[11:59] Hear about her experience working on race cars.
Find out how she applied her skills as an ergonomics practitioner to building race car engines and the industrial side of the industry. We also share war stories of our time working on theme park rides and attractions.
[16:48] Unpack the concept of holistic ergonomics.
How Jenny breaks down the concept for listeners and how she first coined the term. Hear how her background led to the concept, and why she believes ‘bringing it all together’ will unlock the field’s full potential, and we talk about the ecosystem of ergonomics.
[26:17] Discover the technology trends in ergonomics.
We discuss the role of technology in filling the gaps in ergonomics and workplace safety. How TuMeke is leveraging technology to innovate the field, why it is a game-changer, and how technology increases our cognitive bandwidth.
[37:06] What the term ‘ergonomics is everywhere’ means to Jenny.
Why incorporating the core values of ergonomics into broader fields of study is important. Explore the democratization of ergonomics, how it benefits the field, and the significance of ergonomics in a technology-driven society.
[40:09] What the future ergonomics horizon looks like.
Jenny shares her perspective on the role of ergonomics in creating an injury-free workplace, how technology can help, and what she is most excited about. We also discuss embracing holistic ergonomics so people can live healthier and happier lives.
Quotes:
“As much as [ergonomics] is a science, there is also an interpersonal component to [it].” — Jenny Zhao [0:11:16]
“A tool like TuMeke [brings] the practitioner closer to what matters, which is creating implementations and solutions.” — Jenny Zhao [0:33:40]
“For anyone in this field, we always imagine an injury-free future.” — Jenny Zhao [0:40:16]
Longer Quotes:
“Most people are not in this field because they really want to do assessments. The assessments are just a means to be able to do what they actually want to do which is creating solutions and creating a safer environment, seeing change, and seeing that reduction in injuries. That is what is most fulfilling about the job.” — Jenny Zhao [0:33:50]
“[Ergonomic practitioners] need to spread the word and raise the baseline of ergonomics awareness beyond just specialists, practitioners, and people who have degrees in this, to people who might not, but are also a part of the safety team and beyond.” — Jenny Zhao [0:39:00]
“We don’t just want to be reactive, and in fact, to react already [means you] are behind. – There is a multilevel factor of difficulty when fixing problems after the fact [rather] than predicting and preventing these problems from happening.” — Jenny Zhao [0:44:38]
Links & Resources Mentioned in Today’s Episode:
Cornell College of Human Ecology
Applied Ergonomics Conference 2024
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