Document Type
Thesis
Date of Award
12-31-2025
Degree Name
Master of Science in Occupational Safety and Health Engineering - (M.S.)
Department
Mechanical and Industrial Engineering
First Advisor
Wei Yin
Second Advisor
Arijit K. Sengupta
Third Advisor
Roni Barak Ventura
Abstract
The warehousing industry in New Jersey remains a vital component of the region's logistics network, employing more than 200,000 workers who routinely engage in lifting, bending, overhead reaching, and other physically demanding activities. These exposures contribute to musculoskeletal disorder (MSD) rates that exceed national averages, particularly affecting the low back and shoulders. Nationally, MSDs account for an estimated $420 billion in combined direct and indirect costs each year, underscoring the need for interventions that can effectively reduce biomechanical strain. Industrial exoskeletons have emerged as a potential solution, with prior research demonstrating reductions in muscle activation, perceived exertion, and fatigue during certain material-handling tasks. Yet the successful adoption of these devices depends not only on ergonomic performance but also on workers' expectations, perceived usefulness, and social interpretations—factors that have been less thoroughly examined in active warehousing environments.
This study which has been accepted by the IISE 2026 annual conference primarily investigates warehouse employees' perceived benefits, perceived barriers, social perceptions of exoskeleton use, and overall readiness to adopt such devices. A structured survey was administered to 100 warehouse associates across multiple New Jersey facilities, and responses were analyzed using descriptive statistics, correlation analysis, and multiple linear regression to identify the attitudinal factors most influential in shaping readiness. The study was reviewed and approved by the New Jersey Institute of Technology Institutional Review Board (Protocol ID: 2503052525).
The results show that perceived benefits—such as reduced fatigue, simplified job duties, and improved task performance—were strongly related to readiness to use an exoskeleton. Social perceptions also played a meaningful role: workers who held more positive views of coworkers using an exoskeleton tended to report higher readiness. Correlation analyses revealed a strong positive association between benefits and readiness and a moderate negative association between negative perceptions and readiness. Perceived barriers showed only a weak positive correlation with readiness. When examined together in the regression model, perceived benefits and social perceptions were the primary predictors of readiness, while perceived barriers did not contribute significantly once the other domains were considered. The final model explained 68.4% of the variance in readiness, indicating that workers' expectations of usefulness and their interpretation of exoskeleton use within the social context of the warehouse are central drivers of adoption attitudes.
Demographic patterns provided descriptive context. Older workers and male respondents expressed somewhat higher readiness than younger or female participants, although these differences were modest relative to the influence of attitudinal factors. These findings highlight the value of tailoring communication, fit, and training strategies during implementation to accommodate diverse segments of the workforce.
Overall, the study demonstrates that exoskeleton implementation requires attention not only to technical feasibility but also to workers' expectations, comfort, and social perceptions. By identifying the factors that shape readiness in warehousing environments, this research provides practical insight for employers, safety professionals, and ergonomists seeking to integrate exoskeletons effectively into material-handling operations. Future studies should examine long-term acceptance, refine measurement approaches for social perception, and compare readiness across other industry sectors to strengthen generalizability.
Recommended Citation
Asante, Terry, "A study of perceptions, readiness, benefits, and barriers related to exoskeleton adoption in new jersey’s warehousing sector" (2025). Theses. 3363.
https://digitalcommons.njit.edu/theses/3363
Included in
Ergonomics Commons, Human Factors Psychology Commons, Industrial Engineering Commons, Mechanical Engineering Commons, Occupational Health and Industrial Hygiene Commons, Operations and Supply Chain Management Commons
