Dynamic optimization of work station design for employees with disabilities

Procedures to analytically optimize the assignment of workers to job stations have been available for a number of years. Since the assignment of workers with disabilities can necessitate some adaptation of the work station, the existing methodologies are not applicable. This paper discusses (1) a classification scheme which allows comparison of job task requirements with the residual capabilities of the individual and (2) a procedure employing dynamic programming coupled with the classification scheme to maximize the effectiveness of a worker with a disability for fixed levels of capital expenditures on work station modification.