Leading Global Companies Demonstrate Ergonomics Excellence for Prestigious Ergo Cup®

Thirty-five outstanding companies competed in the internationally recognized Ergo Cup® awards competition at the 2008 Applied Ergonomics Conference presented by the Institute of Industrial Engineers (IIE).

Norcross, GA (PRWEB) May 18, 2008 -- Thirty-five prominent companies from across the world competed in the prestigious 2008 Ergo Cup® awards competition held in Orlando, Fla., in March. Presented by the Institute of Industrial Engineers (IIE) and sponsored by The Ergonomics Center of North Carolina, the Ergo Cup competition, an exclusive part of the Applied Ergonomics Conference and Expo, acknowledges companies that offer outstanding ergonomic solutions in the areas of training, engineering and teamwork.

The selection process was highly competitive due to each team's creative approach. A judging panel of master ergonomists selected winners whose solutions excelled in the following three categories: Ergonomics Training, Team-Driven Workplace Solutions and Engineering/Ergonomist-Driven Workplace Solutions. Winners were selected based on stringent criteria including innovation, simplicity, cost savings, ergonomic risk and presentation quality. The winners are Honda of America Manufacturing Inc., East Liberty, Ohio; PPG Aerospace Transparencies, Huntsville, Ala; and Honda of America Manufacturing Inc., Anna, Ohio. Ergo Excellence Awards, selected by attendee votes were presented to Boeing - Interiors Responsibility Center, Everett, Wash.; Honda Power Equipment Manufacturing Inc., Swepsonville, N.C.; Boeing Company, Everett, Wash.; Johnson & Johnson - Ethicon, Cornelia, Ga.; and GE Energy, Bangor, Maine.

"Honda participates in the Ergo Cup as a means to reward our associates by allowing them to showcase their projects with other companies and organizations, as well as learn what others have done. Winning the very competitive Ergo Cup event, of course, becomes an added bonus for Honda," said Jose Banaag, ergonomics leader for Honda of America Manufacturing Inc. and recipient of 2008 Ergo Cup.

In addition to the Ergo Cup awards, the Graduate Student Design team competition, sponsored by Auburn Engineers Inc., allowed graduate students studying ergonomics to present a creative solution to a challenging ergonomic problem for the student prize. The University of Memphis took home this year's Graduate Student Design Ergo Prize.

The Applied Ergonomics Conference and Expo is a distinguished event within the ergonomics industry. Past competitors include Northrop Grumman, Johnson & Johnson (Belgium & France), General Electric (Budapest), Toyota, The Boeing Co., Dell, Bridgestone/Firestone, and Ford Motor Co.

For complete information on the Applied Ergonomics Conferences or to learn more about the Ergo Cup® finalists and winners, visit IIE's Applied Ergonomics community Web site at www.iienet.org/ergo.

About IIE:

IIE is the world's largest professional society dedicated solely to the support of industrial engineers as well as other professionals who improve quality and productivity. Founded in 1948, IIE is an international, nonprofit association with approximately 15,000 members that provides leadership for the application, education, training, research and development of industrial and systems engineering. IIE hosts four conferences annually, produces four publications, offers corporate and classroom training and supports member chapters around the world. Visit IIE online at www.iienet.org.

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