Preventing Work-Related Musculoskeletal Disorders in Manufacturing by Digital Human Modeling

This research concerns the workplace design methodology, involving digital human models, that prevents work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WMSDs). We propose an approach that, in conjunction with one of the classic WMSD risk assessment methods, allows one to simplify simulations in a three-dimensional digital environment. Two real-life workstations from a manufacturing industry were modelled in a 3D Studio Max environment by means of an Anthropos ErgoMax system. A number of simulations show that, for the examined cases, classic boundary mannequins’ approaches can be replaced by using 50th percentile of a population individual, with a minimal impact on the WMSD risk. Although, the finding might not be suitable in all situations, it should be considered, especially where compromise solutions are being sought due to other criteria.

[1]  C G Drury,et al.  Posture, Postural Discomfort, and Performance , 1985, Human factors.

[2]  Xiang Wu,et al.  Simulation and Ergonomic Evaluation of Welders’ Standing Posture Using Jack Software , 2019, International journal of environmental research and public health.

[3]  Marcello Pellicciari,et al.  A comparative study on computer-integrated set-ups to design human-centred manufacturing systems , 2019, Robotics and Computer-Integrated Manufacturing.

[4]  António Veloso,et al.  Development of a Model of the Muscle Skeletal System using Adams. Its Application to an Ergonomic Study in Automotive Industry , 2004 .

[5]  Ahmad Rasdan Ismail,et al.  An Ergonomics Study on Assembly Line Workstation Design , 2011 .

[6]  Why do we need digital human models? , 2019, DHM and Posturography.

[7]  R. Westgaard,et al.  Postural angles as an indicator of postural load and muscular injury in occupational work situations. , 1988, Ergonomics.

[8]  J. A. Carrillo-Castrillo,et al.  Musculoskeletal Risks: RULA Bibliometric Review , 2020, International journal of environmental research and public health.

[9]  José Pérez-Alonso,et al.  Assessment of Postural Load during Melon Cultivation in Mediterranean Greenhouses , 2018, Sustainability.

[10]  S Hignett,et al.  Rapid entire body assessment (REBA). , 2000, Applied ergonomics.

[11]  Barbara T. Pioro.  Human Modeling and Simulation , 1996 .

[12]  Norman I. Badler,et al.  Simulation and analysis of complex human tasks , 1995 .

[13]  Ana Maria Adina Şuteu Băncilă,et al.  Digital Human Modeling in the Development of Assistive Technologies for Elderly Users , 2015 .

[14]  Florian Engstler,et al.  The development of RAMSIS in past and future as an example for the cooperation between industry and university , 2006 .

[15]  Don B. Chaffin,et al.  Development of Computerized Human Static Strength Simulation Model for Job Design , 1997 .

[16]  Jinsong Bao,et al.  Assembly operation process planning by mapping a virtual assembly simulation to real operation , 2013, Comput. Ind..

[17]  Maurice Bonney,et al.  USING SAMMIE FOR COMPUTER-AIDED WORKPLACE AND WORK TASK DESIGN , 1974 .

[18]  John A. Roebuck,et al.  Engineering Anthropometry Methods , 1975 .

[19]  C G Drury,et al.  A methodology for chair evaluation. , 1982, Applied ergonomics.

[20]  Qiugen Wang,et al.  Dynamic Simulation of Biomechanical Behaviour of the Pelvis in the Lateral Impact Loads , 2018, Journal of healthcare engineering.

[21]  Marta Gómez-Galán,et al.  An Overview of REBA Method Applications in the World , 2020, International journal of environmental research and public health.

[22]  Maurice Bonney,et al.  SAMMTB: A Computer Aided Design Tool for Ergonomists , 1986 .

[23]  Markus H. Muser,et al.  Trauma Biomechanics: Accidental injury in traffic and sports , 2007 .

[24]  Anizar,et al.  Evaluation of work posture and quantification of fatigue by Rapid Entire Body Assessment (REBA) , 2018 .

[25]  Jingzhou Yang,et al.  Human reach envelope and zone differentiation for ergonomic design , 2009 .

[26]  K. H. E. Kroemer.  Engineering Anthropometry , 1976 .

[27]  Adarsh Kumar,et al.  A Comparative Study of Postural Stress for Ergonomically Compatible Design in Selected Manual Weeding Tool , 2018 .

[28]  Cecilia Berlin,et al.  Time-related ergonomics evaluation for DHMs: a literature review , 2010 .

[29]  M. Gómez-Galán,et al.  Musculoskeletal disorders: OWAS review. , 2017, Industrial health.

[30]  Nathan B. Fethke,et al.  Digital Human Modeling in the Occupational Safety and Health Process: An Application in Manufacturing , 2018, IISE transactions on occupational ergonomics and human factors.

[31]  Sven Hinrichsen,et al.  Assistance Systems in Manual Assembly , 2016 .

[32]  R Feyen,et al.  Computer-aided ergonomics: a case study of incorporating ergonomics analyses into workplace design. , 2000, Applied ergonomics.

[33]  Waldemar Karwowski,et al.  Workload Assessment Predictability for Digital Human Models , 2008 .

[34]  O Karhu,et al.  Correcting working postures in industry: A practical method for analysis. , 1977, Applied ergonomics.

[35]  L McAtamney,et al.  RULA: a survey method for the investigation of work-related upper limb disorders. , 1993, Applied ergonomics.

[36]  J Maltha.  MADYMO CRASH VICTIM SIMULATIONS HANDBOOK , 1983 .

[37]  Jerzy Grobelny,et al.  Designing Emergency-Medical-Service Helicopter Interiors Using Virtual Manikins , 2014, IEEE Computer Graphics and Applications.

[38]  Xiumin Fan,et al.  Applications and research trends of digital human models in the manufacturing industry , 2019, Virtual Real. Intell. Hardw..

[39]  Yuchun Xu,et al.  Ergonomic evaluation on the manufacturing shop floor: A review of hardware and software technologies , 2020, CIRP Journal of Manufacturing Science and Technology.

[40]  Amarendra Kumar Das,et al.  Digital human modeling (DHM) for improving work environment for specially-abled and elderly , 2019, SN Applied Sciences.

[41]  Andreas Seidl,et al.  RAMSIS - A New CAD-Tool for Ergonomic Analysis of Vehicles Developed for the German Automotive Industry , 1997 .

[42]  Jingzhou Yang,et al.  Hybrid method for driver accommodation using optimization-based digital human models , 2012, Comput. Aided Des..

[43]  E N Corlett,et al.  A technique for assessing postural discomfort. , 1976, Ergonomics.

[44]  Mohsen Zare,et al.  Using Digital and Physical Simulation to Focus on Human Factors and Ergonomics in Aviation Maintainability , 2020, Hum. Factors.

[45]  Thaneswer Patel,et al.  Towards virtual ergonomics: aviation and aerospace , 2015 .

[46]  Joanna Bartnicka,et al.  Knowledge-based ergonomic assessment of working conditions in surgical ward – A case study , 2015 .

[47]  Don B. Chaffin,et al.  Digital Human Modeling for Workspace Design , 2008 .

[48]  Matthew P. Reed,et al.  Predicting vehicle occupant postures using statistical models , 2019 .

[49]  Dohyung Kee,et al.  A method for analytically generating three-dimensional isocomfort workspace based on perceived discomfort. , 2002, Applied ergonomics.

[50]  Karim Abdel-Malek,et al.  Development of the Virtual-Human SantosTM , 2007, HCI.

[51]  J T Fleck,et al.  VALIDATION OF THE CRASH VICTIM SIMULATOR , 1981 .

[52]  Y. Roquelaure.  Musculoskeletal Disorders and Psychosocial Factors at Work , 2018 .

[53]  R. Cherng,et al.  Musculoskeletal symptoms and associated risk factors among office workers with high workload computer use. , 2012, Journal of manipulative and physiological therapeutics.

[54]  Arijit Sengupta,et al.  Human: An autocad based three dimensional anthropometric human model for workstation design , 1997 .

[55]  Matthew B. Parkinson,et al.  A comparison of methodologies for designing for human variability , 2011 .

[56]  Lars Hanson,et al.  A comparative study of digital human modelling simulation results and their outcomes in reality: A case study within manual assembly of automobiles , 2009 .

[57]  Jasbir S. Arora,et al.  Santos: An integrated human modeling and simulation platform , 2019 .

[58]  W. F. Floyd,et al.  POSTURE IN INDUSTRY , 1967 .

[59]  Magnus Rönnäng,et al.  Evaluation of ergonomics in a virtual manufacturing process , 2007 .