Office workstation with monitor, keyboard, and laptop used for ergonomics planning.

Product Database for Ergonomics Programs: A Step-by-Step Setup Guide

ByGrant Vale

6. Make the database usable day to day

8. Common setup mistakes and how to fix them

  • Too many categories: if evaluators cannot remember where an item belongs, collapse the taxonomy and keep only the categories that improve search or reporting.
  • Inconsistent naming: choose one approved record name and store synonyms as search aids, not as competing titles.
  • No ownership: assign a named role to approve edits, retire stale items, and review logic changes.
  • Product-first recommendations: add “adjustment first” rules to records where setup changes should come before equipment.
  • No follow-up fields: if the record ends at recommendation, add status, owner, due date, and outcome fields.
  • Mixing catalog data with case notes: keep standard product logic in the database and person-specific context in the case record.