International Journal of Scientific & Engineering Research, Volume 4, Issue 7, July-2013 2379 ISSN 2229-5518 IJSER © 2013 http://www.ijser.org Anthropometry as an Ergonomic Design Factor in an Open Plan Selected Computer Operator Work Station: Cyber Cafés Perspectives *C.O. Anyaeche (1) A. O. Adeodu (2) I. A. Daniyan (3) (1, 2) Department of Industrial and Production Engineering University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria. (3) Department of Mechanical and Mechatronics Engineering Afe Babalola University, Ado Ekiti, Nigeria. (1) osita.anyaeche@mail.ui.edu.ng , (1) osyanya@yahoo.com (2) femi2001ng@yahoo.com, (3) afolabiilesanmi@yahoo.com (2) Corresponding Author Abstract The aim of this research is to study selected cyber cafe workstations to establish the current practices with reference to the use of anthropometry. Also to re-design the work station, if necessary, in order to improve productivity, health safety and comfort of the operators in the work station. Optimising the anthropometric data for computer work station design can be a complex task because of the number of design parameters that must be put into consideration. This problem has recently been made much easier to solve as a result of the development of some design principles like design for extreme, design for average sizes and design for adjustable range. Because of the nature of the selected workstations, design for adjustable range principle is used. Anthropometric dimensions of the operators were used to design chair and table which can accommodate 5% - 95% of the operators. The work stations were examined and analysed under the combination of different anthropometric parameters. The analysis of the results indicates some deficiencies in the design of the workstation based on the design parameters and standard values from the literatures. Based on the analysis of these results the operators and their clients may likely be exposed to fatigue, work stress and other related diseases. For demonstration of the application of the adjustable range design approach, a computer operator work station (Open Plan Cyber café) has been re-designed as a real case. It is hoped that the new design will contribute to improvement in productivity, health safety and comfort of the operators in the workstation. In the proposed adjustable range design approach, I suggest to every organisation operating with the workstation. Before any decision on making or buying equipments and tools, industrial engineers are to be consulted depending on the design factor, for proper guidance. Anthropometric dimensions of the workers should also be considered for any workstation that requires chair and table design. Many works that were done on anthropometry as a design factor for computer operator work station were done on simple system, where design for extreme and average are always reasonable. The research work was done on multiple complex systems like cyber cafe, where many people of different sizes and shapes were considered. In view of these, design for adjustable range is most economical and ergonomic appropriate. Key words: Ergonomic, Workstation, Anthropometric data, design for extreme, design for average sizes and design for adjustable range. Word count: 360 IJSER