Title: Uniformity in manikin posturing: a comparison between posture prediction and manual joint manipulation

Authors: Dan Lamkull, Lars Hanson, Roland Ortengren

Addresses: Volvo Car Corporation, Manufacturing Engineering, Virtual Manufacturing, SE-405 31 Goteborg, Sweden. ' Department of Design Sciences, Lund University, SE-221 00 Lund, Sweden. ' Department of Product and Production Development, Chalmers University of Technology, SE-412 96 Goteborg, Sweden

Abstract: This paper presents the results of a comparison of manikin posturing within and between simulation engineers. Five simulation engineers were asked to simulate four manual assembly cases. They repeated each task six times, three times with a posture prediction tool and three times with manual adjustment of the body angles. The results show that the posture-prediction-tool was not used in an optimal manner. Although the prediction-tool was quick at suggesting a likely posture, the simulation engineers were reluctant to consider a simulation task completed until the manikin|s posture was realistic in all aspects. The comparison indicates that if a posture-prediction-tool is to be beneficial, results with postures containing some non-cosmetic elements must be accepted. It is not until such an acceptance is achieved that the successful use of a posture-prediction-tool will become a reality.

Keywords: virtual manufacturing; manikin posturing; digital human modelling; posture prediction; manual manipulation; posture variation; joint manipulation; simulation; human factors; manual assembly; body angles; ergonomics.

DOI: 10.1504/IJHFMS.2008.022478

International Journal of Human Factors Modelling and Simulation, 2008 Vol.1 No.2, pp.225 - 243

Published online: 08 Jan 2009 *

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