Linking Ergonomics Evaluation and Assembly System Design Problem in a New Integrated Procedure

Several published case studies demonstrate that ergonomics considerations might lead to change the workstations layout and task time values. Traditional procedures take into account only task time analysis and precedence relations, while human postures evaluation is often not integrated in these techniques. Up to now many industrial fields require a systematic approach to allow assembly system design including ergonomics guidelines. The aim of this paper is to investigate how ergonomics and assembly system configurations are intimately related in practice, and to develop a conceptual framework for the assembly system design, in conjunction with ergonomics optimization of the work place. An industrial case to illustrate the procedure application is presented and advanced simulation software is used, as final step, to validate the procedure and support the theoretical framework.