Ergonomics Program Product Database: A Clean Structure for Evaluations, Recommendations, and Follow-Up
- Product database: the master record of equipment, accessories, and standard intervention options your program can reference.
- Evaluation workflow: the path from intake or self-assessment to recommendation, implementation, and review.
- Recommendation-ready entry: a product record that explains when to use the item, what problem it helps address, and what follow-up needs to be tracked.
- Taxonomy: the small set of categories and tags that make the database searchable and reportable.
- Outcome tracking: the part that shows whether a recommendation was accepted, installed, substituted, or still unresolved.
1. What a product database should do beyond storing items
5. Add decision support so the database guides good judgment
- When to recommend: note the workstation findings or role conditions that justify the item.
- What to try first: identify simple adjustments that should be checked before equipment is ordered.
- Alternative options: list common substitutes when budget, supply, or fit make the first option unsuitable.
- Common substitutions: show what the evaluator can choose when the preferred product is backordered or incompatible.
| Role | What they need most | What to keep light |
|---|---|---|
| Evaluators | Searchable recommendations, fit notes, alternatives, and follow-up prompts | Long procurement detail in the first view |
| HR or managers | Status, owner, timeline, and plain-language rationale | Dense technical product language |
| Employees | What to expect, what the item helps, and setup basics | Internal approval codes or supplier admin data |
| Procurement or facilities | Approved item name, supplier detail, compatibility, and substitution rules | Assessment narrative that belongs in case notes |