Title: The effect of manikin anthropometrics and posturing guidelines on proactive ergonomic assessments using digital human models

Authors: Tara Kajaks; Allison Stephens; Jim R. Potvin

Addresses: Department of Kinesiology, McMaster University, 1280 Main Street West, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada. ' Advanced Engineering and Technology, Manufacturing Design Center, Ford Motor Company, 6100 Mercury Drive, Dearborn, MI 48126, USA. ' Department of Kinesiology, McMaster University, 1280 Main Street West, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada

Abstract: Preliminary investigations of the validity of manual digital human model (DHM) manipulations, to accurately reproduce real worker postures, have identified a potential need to refine the manual posturing strategies used by ergonomists when performing proactive virtual ergonomics assessments. This study investigated the effect of altering manikin anthropometrics and implementing posturing guidelines when using DHMs for this purpose. Twelve automotive assembly-line tasks were used to assess the differences between real worker postures, captured via motion capture techniques, and postures obtained from manually manipulated DHMs scaled to either an average female DHM or the real worker average height. Ergonomists performed the DHM assessments using a set of five postural guidelines. Using the postural guidelines generally resulted in more conservative estimates and, in some tasks, improved accuracy across kinetic (% capable, total solved force, L5-S1 compression force, and resultant shoulder torque) and kinematic (shoulder, elbow, and trunk joint angles, and shoulder and L5-S1 reach distances) variables.

Keywords: virtual reality; digital human modelling; DHM; proactive ergonomics; manikin anthropometrics; posture; automotive manufacturing; ergonomic assessments; human factors; simulation; posturing guidelines; automotive assembly; aassembly line tasks; automobile industry; motion capture; kinetic variables; kinematic variables.

DOI: 10.1504/IJHFMS.2011.044512

International Journal of Human Factors Modelling and Simulation, 2011 Vol.2 No.3, pp.236 - 253

Received: 06 May 2011
Accepted: 25 Oct 2011
Published online: 22 Oct 2014 *

Full-text access for editors Full-text access for subscribers Purchase this article Comment on this article