Human Modeling in the Context of the Digital Factory

Abstract

Manufacturers are forced to reduce the time-to-market for their products. A short and effective engineering process requires the support of concurrent engineering, a common database for all planning-relevant data and a compatible systems landscape. This is our vision of the Digital Factory.

One important aspect of manufacturing is the optimal use of a human workforce. Digital Factory applications with 3D human models enable engineers to plan and optimize human tasks. These tools are used to design workplaces, perform ergonomic and time studies and document the results. Manufacturers achieve better productivity of human tasks, and the workers gain from ergonomically designed working environments.