Evaluation of human postures with computer aids and virtual workplace designs

Traditional workplace design and redesign, based on the results of ergonomics evaluations, are time-consuming and often unfeasible in industry. Computer-aided workplace design simplifies the analysis of postures and allows a far greater level of detail to be incorporated into the analysis. Several such techniques have been developed including computer-aided video analysis and a postural analysis software tool for use with a man-model. The benefits and limitations of the techniques, and four applications are presented. The techniques provide a high level of postural and temporal detail. Postural analysis can be related to the joint range of motion (ROM) of the operator or to the population ROM. The time required to perform ergonomics analyses of workplaces is shortened using these techniques and it is possible to consider more workplace configurations and design changes while the workplace is still in the virtual design stage, thus reducing the risk of ergonomics problems occurring later on. It forms a necessary part of an integrated process needed for a concurrent engineering approach to work system design.