Multi-Objective Job Rotation in Rice Seed Harvesting With Equitable Injury Risk and Cost Allocation

Abstract

This article presents a non-linear multi-objective optimization model with four different objectives for manual rice seed harvesting, aiming to ensure members' fairness and mutual benefits for a group of rice field owners responsible for seed planting and a group of workers tasked with harvesting rice seeds. The harvesting plan primarily focuses on minimizing the average injury risk to workers and secondarily balances this risk among workers. Simultaneously, the model seeks to minimize and equitably allocate wage costs for rice field owners. Worker characteristics, including age, gender, and body mass index are considered to influence injury risk differentially. The optimal solution involves rotating workers to different rice stalk types in several fields, all within appropriate work and rest periods. This approach serves to prevent musculoskeletal disorders and fatigue among the workers while helping rice field owners reduce their costs. This collaborative planning has the potential to enhance sustainability within the farming community.