Optimization of the process parameters in rice mill using response surface methodology (RSM)

Abstract

Objective of the current study was to analyze a wooden plank used as a loading ramp to perform manual handling task with a view to redesign and develop the new one for agriculture. Developed ramp was more wide, static and non slippery than the wooden plank. For this purpose experiments were conducted on a group of 10 experienced manual handlers in the KLA rice mill of Rudrapur Block, district Udhamsingh Nagar, Uttarakhand, India. The reliability and validity of the developed, modern loading ramp was assessed by using response surface methodology in terms of change in MSD, heart rate and VO2 max. Therefore RSM was applied to optimize the operating parameters of ramp such as load weight, height of ramp and time. As per Box Behenken design total 17 experiments were carried out. Each parameter was varied over three levels as load weight of 40, 50 and 60 kg., height of ramp 3, 4 and 5 feet, and the time viz. 3, 4 and 5 min. ANOVA test and coefficient of determination (R2) were applied. In result it was observed that use of developed pant loading ramp was able to reduce heart rate of selected respondent’s from 135.4 beats/min. to 126.76 beats/min., MSD from 85.45 to 22.80 % and VO2 max from 39.45 to 34L/min.