Abstract
This paper describes the development of a tool (the checklist) and method (the package drawing) for facilitating the inclusion of ‘sound’ ergonomics into student product designs.
The checklist was developed by the authors for teaching purposes. It is very simple and enables the student to identify all the ergonomics requirements and issues associated with their product, the ergonomics information they require and how they might source the information. It also provides a discussion tool for staff tutorials, ensuring that students have thought about pertinent issues prior to the tutorial. It has improved the identification of ergonomics issues, their solutions and levels of communication between students and staff.
The ‘package’ drawing is the automotive industry standard for visually presenting the way in which the occupants and mechanicals are arranged within a vehicle. Some aspects of ergonomics are presented e.g. sight lines and fit. In student projects this often the totality of the presented ergonomics. The method has, therefore, been developed and extended to encompass initial evaluations of ingress/egress, access to storage space and. ranges of adjustment required to provide more ergonomics information. It has improved the coverage of some of the basic issues of ‘fit’ and has been well received by the students because it is visual.
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