Mother of Ergonomics & Management : Lillian Moller Gilberth

Lillian 's life was shaped by the conventions and traditions of the 19th century society. But, with her exceptional merit she managed to convince her father and got admission to University of California. As the eldest of her nine siblings she also had to ensure that her study didn't hamper the caring of her siblings. She was the first woman in the university history chosen to deliver her speech on the commencement day in 1900.

When I was looking for a woman inventor for my assignment,I was going through a number of lists;suddenly my eyes got fixed at her name because the list was showing she was a mother of 12 children!!! I was awestruck and quickly clicked on her profile. What I saw was amazing...and decided to take Lillian's contribution as the subject matter of my final project. Thank God,I am permitted to do that as no one else in our course has chosen Her.I couldn't even imagine how a woman can maintain her 12 children, her household chores along with her engineering and industrial carrier . Lillian had a happy married life with her husband Frank and their children.

Lillian worked in a period when there was clamor of World War-I. It was an era when a bulk of women had to enter into the work field replacing the men power who were fighting in the on going war.Among her contemporars,there were Dorothy Young, Rosa Valerio & Jessie Cartwright. They were the women who invented sewing guide,improved embroidery tech and invented washing machine. But...Lillian Moller Gilberth invented the a whole discipline of ERGONOMICS(ergonomics is essentially fitting the workplace to the worker) and introduced psychology and management into the industry. She was the first to recognize the fatigue and stress of the workers as well as housewives. As a result she designed several kitchen appliances.Here is the link which will provide some glimpse of her innovative ideas; gilbrethnetwork.tripod.com/kitpics1.html

Some of her inventions are step-on trash can, the improved electric can opener, the egg keeper,electric food mixer and butter tray in refrigerators and the waste water hose in washing machines.To reduce the complications of kitchen and to make the work more comfortable she interviewed 4000 women to design the proper height for stoves,sinks and other kitchen fixtures.In 1966, she became the fist women to be elected to the National Academy of Engineering.

Another interesting feature of Lillian's life seemed very interesting and which is her educational background. She hadn't come from an engineering background. She did her M.A in literature and PhD in psychology.It was her sheer dedication to science which drove her into those marvelous inventions.Though it may not seem something like rocket science or quantum theory,her inventions were much ahead of her time.


So,next time when pressing the paddle of any trash can or mixing cake recipes with a mixer in an egg bowl or putting something on a fridge self...stop for a while to pay a tribute to this lady and think how a woman's inventions make life so easy that you can't even think of your world without these appliances!!!