The IAD has been evaluated extensively for three applications: warehousing and distribution centers, auto-assembly plants, and delivery services. A study on warehousing maneuvers at distribution centers demonstrated that palletizing, depalletizing, loading and unloading trucks, and placingboxesonandoffofconveyorbeltsarethemost commonmaneuvers.Initialstudies ofthedistribution centers demonstrated
thatobjectstobemaneuvered inwarehousesand distribution centers aremostly boxesweighinglessthan27 kgthatrequireworkers to maneuver them rapidly (sometimes up to 15 boxes a minute). The use of the IADs in warehouseswould have aconsiderable
impact on reducing
injuriestotheworker populationbecause ofthelargenumber ofwarehouseworkers.Figure33.6showstheuseofthe IAD in a distribution center during a depalletizingoperation.
