A more realistic digital human modelling (DHM) approach to manufacturing industry

Today’s globally competitive and challenging market place places demands on workers to perform at their best. Workers may have to struggle and maximize their efforts to meet the demands of modern manufacturing systems. Often, excessive workloads due to high production targets cause serious problems for the workers in the form of pain, injuries, fatigue, slips and falls. All these problems result in job dissatisfaction and the organization suffers from a loss in productivity and quality. In this globalized word, the diversity of organizations’ workforces is increasing with every passing year. In this context, it is challenging to propose suitable design solutions that can accommodate the maximum percentage of workers. Previously, Digital Human Modeling (DHM) tools have been successfully used for the assessment of design suitability at an earlier design phase. Now, there is a need to use these tools to identify mismatches between job demands and an individual’s capabilities for a more diversified workforce. This is especially so, as manufacturing assembly activities become very important as these still require a significant physical involvement of workers. A more realistic ‘design for all’ approach based on the actual working capabilities of individuals is considered helpful, so that better, safer and healthier workplaces for all workers might be assured. This can possibly lead to safer and more productive working environments where organizations gain benefits in terms of workforce satisfaction, improvement in productivity and quality of products.