Ergonomics in China: Perspectives from the 1998 People to People International Ergonomics Delegation, October 17–31

Abstract

In October 1998 nine ergonomists from around the world embarked on a two-week tour of the People's Republic of China. This delegation represented only the second formal delegation to visit this vast and largely unknown nation. The group travelled as part of a larger delegation of Citizen Ambassadors with the People to People International organization from the U.S. The Ergonomics delegation saw first hand how ergonomics is being studied and applied in China. Apart from visiting with several universities and government organizations, the group participated in the China Ergonomics Society quadrennial conference and visited several manufacturing factories. Ergonomics is not wide spread in China but the focus appears to be on cognitive ergonomics and primarily looking at mental workload capacity, macroergonomics in the global economy, and Chinese anthropometrics. As China participates more on the global stage the influence of other nations is certainly impacting the direction that ergonomics is taking in China.