Evolution and trends of the OWAS method

a systematic review via bibliometrics

Authors

  • Luan Menezes Luzo Universidade Federal do Ceará (UFC), Campus Russas, CE, Brasil.
  • Lucelindo Dias Ferreira Junior Reis Universidade Federal do Ceará (UFC), Campus Russas, CE, Brasil.
  • Ana Lucy Rodrigues Ferreira Faisting Universidade Federal do Ceará (UFC), Campus Russas, CE, Brasil.
  • Joanderson de Almeida Reis Ferreira Instituto Federal de Educação, Ciência e Tecnologia do Ceará (IFC), Fortaleza, CE, Brasil.

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.14488/1676-1901.v26i2.5844

Keywords:

OWAS, Ergonomics, Ergonomic Instruments, Bibliometrics

Abstract

The Ovako Working Posture Analysis System (OWAS) method, consolidated in the 1970s, remains a fundamental tool in industrial ergonomic analysis. Despite its wide application in identifying risks of musculoskeletal disorders, the method presents critical limitations due to its simplified approach, which neglects body segments such as the neck and wrists, potentially leading to underestimation of risks. Given the need to understand the evolution and current relevance of this technique, this study conducted a bibliometric analysis in the Scopus database, processed via Biblioshiny. The results reveal an expanding literature trajectory, with a strong concentration of production in Asian industrial centers and a growing trend of integrating OWAS with digital technologies and the RULA method. In addition to mapping authors and journals of greatest impact, the study diagnoses theoretical gaps and evaluates the diffusion of the method in contemporary ergonomic practice. It can be concluded that OWAS has evolved from an analog tool into an essential component in hybrid evaluation systems, offering strategic support for research development in advanced manufacturing contexts.

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Author Biographies

Luan Menezes Luzo, Universidade Federal do Ceará (UFC), Campus Russas, CE, Brasil.

Engenheiro de Produção pela Universidade Federal do Ceará.

Lucelindo Dias Ferreira Junior Reis, Universidade Federal do Ceará (UFC), Campus Russas, CE, Brasil.

Professor do Magistério Superior no curso de Engenharia de Produção da Universidade Federal do Ceará (UFC), Campus Russas. Doutor e Mestre em Engenharia de Produção pela Escola de Engenharia de São Carlos (EESC), Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Graduado em Engenharia de Produção Mecânica pela Universidade Federal do Ceará (UFC). Pesquisador na área de Desenvolvimento de Produtos, Ergonomia e Educação em Engenharia.

Ana Lucy Rodrigues Ferreira Faisting, Universidade Federal do Ceará (UFC), Campus Russas, CE, Brasil.

Doutora em Fisioterapia pela Universidade Federal de São Carlos (UFSCar) e Mestre em Engenharia de Produção pela Universidade Federal de São Carlos (UFSCar). Especialista em Fisioterapia Respiratória e Cardiovascular e graduada em Fisioterapia pela Universidade de Fortaleza (UNIFOR). Pesquisadora na área de Trabalho, Tecnologia e Organização, com ênfase em Ergonomia. Atuou como Professora e Coordenadora do Curso Técnico em Massoterapia pelo Instituto Centro de Ensino Tecnológico - CENTEC na EEEP Vereador José Batista Filho.

Joanderson de Almeida Reis Ferreira, Instituto Federal de Educação, Ciência e Tecnologia do Ceará (IFC), Fortaleza, CE, Brasil.

Doutorando em Ensino - Instituto Federal de Educação, Ciência e Tecnologia do Ceará; Mestre em Ensino de Ciências e Matemática - Instituto Federal de Educação, Ciência e Tecnologia do Ceará; Especialista em Matemática, suas tecnologias e o mundo do trabalho - Universidade Federal do Piauí; Graduado em Licenciatura em Matemática - Universidade de Uberaba.

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Published

2026-09-29

How to Cite

Luzo, L. M., Junior Reis, L. D. F., Faisting, A. L. R. F., & Ferreira, J. de A. R. (2026). Evolution and trends of the OWAS method: a systematic review via bibliometrics. Revista Produção Online, 26(2), 5844 . https://doi.org/10.14488/1676-1901.v26i2.5844

Issue

Vol. 26 No. 2 (2026): Fluxo contínuo

Section

Papers

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