CHAPTER II:

DESIGN &
METHODOLOGY
2.1.1 Research Description

The study is about the fabrication of the Ergonomic Coconut Husking Machine and how will it be
designed to make it fit to the workers. The tool consists of two blades the one is fixed and the other is
movable. The movable blade is attached to the handle. As force is applied on the handle the jaw rotates
which helps in dehusking. While dehusking the coconut is impaled onto the blades in closed position, and
then handle is lifted up to dehusk. The process of this tool starts when the coconut that was kept on the
platform begins to be impaled from the top with the sharp jaws of the tool swinging downwards. Then,
the handles of the tool were pulled outwardly to separate the jaws and ripped the husk.

2.1.2 Population

The population of the study will be composed of five (5) men and five (5) women with the total
of ten (10) persons. These samples are coconut vendors whose major part of their job is husking coconuts.

2.1.3 Local of the Study

The study was conducted at the Tarlac City Public Downtown Public Market located at F. Tañedo
Street at Tarlac City. This market is one of the biggest public market in the province of Tarlac and it
houses numerous stores such as meat stores, vegetable stores, fruit stores, merchandise stores, ukay-ukay
stores and sari-sari stores. It is also surrounded by some small karinderyas, gotohan and famous fastfood
chains such as McDo, Jollibee and Chowking.

The researchers found this place as the area where the coconut vendors, which serve as the
samples of the current study, work and sells coconut as their livelihood. The taking of measure of the
anthropometric data of the sample will be done here.

2.2 Data Gathering and Procedures

2.2.1 Planning

 Concept Paper Preparation

The researchers discussed and conceptualized the kind of project that they are going to
do. The researchers came with the idea of developing and fabricating an ergonomic
coconut husking tool.
  Prepare the Bill of Materials
After the approval of the design, the researchers prepared the bill of materials needed in
the fabrication of the ergonomic coconut husking machine.

 Canvass and Purchase

The researchers went on their way to canvass the prices of the materials billed.

2.2.2 Research Paper

 Internet Research
The researchers utilized the internet in researching about the review of related literatures
in coconut husking machines. The researchers searched the different coconut husking machines
that have already been developed on the other countries and the ergonomic problems it may cause
the users so that the researchers may prevent these disadvantages to the research.

 Use of Library Resources

The researchers used the library facilities and resources like thesis from the different
fields of enginering to serve as a guide and a reference for writing up the term paper.

2.2.3 Sampling
The researchers used a tape measure to obtain the anthropometric data from the samples.
They also used a pen and notebook to write down their taken measurement. Two members will
take the measurement while the other one will take down notes of the data.
 Flow Chart of the Data Gathering

START

PLANNING

Concept Paper Preparation

Prepare the Bill of Materials

Canvass and Purchase

RESEARCH PAPER

Internet Research Use of Library Resources

SAMPLING
2.3 Statistical Treatment
The researchers will use the following in interpreting the data that will gather:

 Mean – for getting the average value of the anthropometric data.

x̄ = ( Σ xi ) / n
 x̄ just stands for the “sample mean”
 Σ means “add up”
 xi “all of the x-values”
 n means “the number of items in the sample.

 Percentile - tells whether the measurement given in the tables relates to the average
person, or someone who is above or below average in a certain dimension.
xp= x̄ + zs (for p > 50th)
xp= x̄ - zs (for p < 50th)
 xp represents value of the percentile
 z represents factors corresponding to the percentile
 s represents standard deviation
 p represent percentile

The table below shows Z values for commonly used percentiles.

TABLE I. Z Values Used For Percentiles

Percentile Z

1st -2.326

2.5th -1.960

5th -1.645

10th -1.282

25th -0.675

50th 0

75th 0.675
90th 1.282

95th 1.645

97.5th 1.960

99th 2.326