Uji Penerimaan Penggunaan Eksoskeleton dan Pengaruhnya terhadap Produktivitas Kerja pada Pemanen Kelapa Sawit di Bogor

Abstract

Kegiatan panen kelapa sawit di Indonesia masih didominasi oleh proses manual yang intensif dan memiliki risiko musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs). Menanggapi permasalahan tersebut, tim peneliti Institut Pertanian Bogor (IPB) dan Badan Riset dan Inovasi Nasional (BRIN) mengembangkan upper limb exoskeleton (ULE) sebagai alat bantu kerja panen kelapa sawit. Namun, kajian mengenai penerimaan pemanen terhadap ULE dalam konteks panen kelapa sawit masih terbatas, padahal penerimaan pengguna merupakan salah satu aspek penting dalam penerapan teknologi. Penelitian ini bertujuan mengetahui tingkat penerimaan pemanen kelapa sawit terhadap ULE, mengetahui tingkat produktivitas kerja dengan penggunaan ULE, serta memberikan rekomendasi perbaikan desain ULE berdasarkan hasil pengujian. Pengumpulan data penerimaan dilakukan menggunakan kuesioner integrasi SUS, USE, dan COEH, kuesioner Schwerha, serta USEQ. Produktivitas kerja dievaluasi melalui time study dengan membandingkan durasi aktivitas cutting pada kondisi tanpa dan dengan menggunakan ULE. Selain itu, pengamatan NBM dilakukan pada tiga pemanen terpilih selama 30 hari penggunaan ULE untuk melihat perubahan keluhan MSDs. Rekomendasi perbaikan desain disusun berdasarkan hasil kuesioner dan wawancara terbuka dengan pemanen. Hasil penelitian menunjukkan bahwa tingkat penerimaan pemanen terhadap ULE secara umum tergolong baik. Sebanyak 85% responden berada pada kategori acceptable dan marginal high berdasarkan kuesioner integrasi SUS, USE, dan COEH, 70% berdasarkan kuesioner Schwerha, dan 85% berdasarkan USEQ. Hasil time study menunjukkan tidak terdapat perbedaan yang signifikan pada durasi aktivitas cutting antara kondisi tanpa dan dengan menggunakan ULE. Namun, penggunaan ULE selama 30 hari pada tiga pemanen terpilih pada penelitian ini menunjukkan penurunan keluhan MSDs dan kelelahan kerja, yang secara teoritis berpotensi mendukung efisiensi pemanfaatan waktu dan produktivitas dalam penggunaan jangka panjang. Rekomendasi perbaikan desain ULE diarahkan pada peningkatan kesesuaian antropometri, khususnya pengikat paha dan harness, optimasi karakteristik material.

Oil palm harvesting in Indonesia is still predominantly carried out through intensive manual processes and poses a risk of musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs). In response to this issue, a research team from IPB University and the National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN) developed an upper limb exoskeleton (ULE) as a work-assistive device for oil palm harvesting. However, studies on harvesters’ acceptance of ULE in the context of oil palm harvesting remain limited, despite user acceptance being an important factor in technology implementation. This study aimed to determine oil palm harvesters’ acceptance of ULE, assess work productivity with ULE use, and provide recommendations for ULE design improvements based on the test results. Acceptance data were collected using an integrated SUS, USE, and COEH questionnaire, the Schwerha questionnaire, and USEQ. Work productivity was evaluated through a time study by comparing the duration of the cutting activity under conditions with and without ULE. In addition, NBM assessments were conducted on three selected harvesters over 30 days of ULE use to observe changes in MSD complaints. Design improvement recommendations were developed based on questionnaire results and open-ended interviews with harvesters. The results showed that overall acceptance of ULE among harvesters was good. Based on the integrated SUS, USE, and COEH questionnaire, 85% of respondents were classified as acceptable and marginal high, compared with 70% based on the Schwerha questionnaire and 85% based on USEQ. The time study results showed no significant difference in cutting duration between conditions with and without ULE. However, in this study, 30 days of ULE use among the three selected harvesters showed reductions in MSD complaints and work-related fatigue, which theoretically may support more efficient use of working time and productivity over long-term use. Recommendations for ULE design improvement were directed toward enhancing anthropometric fit, particularly the thigh straps and harness, as well as optimizing material characteristics.