Ergonomic Evaluation of Manufacturing System Designs

摘要

Using high-level, 3-D computer graphics simulation and other engineering analysis tools, this research investigates the ergonomic advantages of one manufacturing system design over another. The designs compared are lean manu- facturing (manufacturing cells) and the functional (job shop) design. Simulation models based on an actual manufacturing cell and its workers are used to generate corresponding functional workstations with identically modeled workers. Three ergonomic areas-kilocalorie expenditure, potential For harmful postures, and potential for repetitive motion dis- Orders-are analyzed from simulated and monitored data on Energy expenditure, postures, repetitive motion, and other Processing functions, such as cycle time.