Ergonomics risk assessment with digital human models in car assembly: Simulation versus real life

Abstract

This study investigated how well ergonomics risk assessments on simulations with digital human models (DHM) match real-life assessments obtained on a car assembly line. Two ergonomists evaluated 20 work tasks in real life and as a DHM simulation using a company-specific version of the Automotive Assembly Worksheet (AAWS) for assessing static postures, action forces, manual material handling, and extra strains. Results demonstrate that DHM simulations provide good estimations of the workload in real-life tasks. Additionally, significant correlations were found between AAWS risk assessments and subjectively perceived exertion measured on the Borg scale. Yet, there were also some significant differences in AAWS risk classification and AAWS total scores. DHM simulations appear helpful for reliably detecting static postures and extra strains, whereas action forces are harder to estimate than in real life. It is suggested that comprehensive methods such as AAWS should be incorporated in DHM software for enhancing efficiency and validity of digital ergonomics risk assessment. C 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Assessment and virtual redesign of a manual handling workstation by computer-aided three-dimensional interactive application

“…Engineers, ergonomists, and preventive medicine specialists are seeking to assess the risks as the first step in the prevention and reduction of WMSDs (18). The integration of CATIA software and a risk assessment method such as RULA can provide good estimates of the tasks' workloads (19). Another study reported that, musculoskeletal risk factors of awkward shoulder postures, repetitive motions, and musculoskeletal symptoms in shoulders were significantly lower in the intervention group than the control group (20).…”

A Biobjective Model for Manual Materials Handling with Energy Consumption Being Accounted For

“…Simulation software can provide good ergonomics risk estimations of the workload in real-life task and match real-life assessments [31]. In this simulation software we mentioned, IGRIP/ERGO is an interactive 3D simulation analysis tool of ergonomics which is suitable for design of workplace and improvement of work environment as a professional tool for human movement and tasks.…”

“…Many scholars have used mature ergonomic simulation software such as CATIA, JACK, IGRIP/ERGO, and other professional software to solve problems for enhancing efficiency and validity of ergonomics risk assessment in engineering [30][31][32][33][34][35]. Mazzola et al said that Digital Human Model (DHM) has been developed in order to increase the level of quality of the ergonomic design process [30].…”

“…Mazzola et al said that Digital Human Model (DHM) has been developed in order to increase the level of quality of the ergonomic design process [30]. Fritzsche indicated that DHM simulation provides good ergonomics risk estimations of the workload in real-life task and matches real-life assessments obtained on a car assembly line [31]. They demonstrated that simulation approach is successfully used in improving participatory ergonomic work [32][33][34][35].…”

A Simulation-Based Ergonomic and Operational Analysis for the Improvement of a Fish Processing Factory Ship

“…DHM can be used to jointly consider productivity and ergonomic measures for the workstation design. It has been applied in a very wide range of sectors, such as the food industry [10], mining [11] and automobile industry [12]. However, the reported application of DHM in the fish processing sector has not been found.…”