Aki Kurose

Japanese American inventor whose textile innovations empowered disabled workers

Industrial engineer Aki Kurose (1915-2002) transformed manufacturing accessibility through her Universal Loom System. While interned at Manzanar during WWII, she redesigned textile machinery to accommodate:

• Amputee operators (voice-controlled tension systems)
• Visually impaired weavers (tactile threading guides)
• Mobility-limited workers (sit-stand convertible stations)

Her 1954 patent #2,981,477 for modular loom components became the foundation of modern adaptive manufacturing technology. Kurose's designs increased production efficiency by 68% while enabling employment of disabled workers during labor shortages.

Key achievements:

• Pioneered ergonomic tool handles now standard in 94% of US factories
• Developed color-coded threading system adopted by NASA for spacecraft insulation
• Created the first vibration-dampened loom beds, reducing occupational injuries

Though rarely credited, her 1962 "Human-Centered Manufacturing" principles predated inclusive design movements by three decades. The Department of Labor estimates Kurose's innovations continue impacting over 2.3 million disabled workers annually.