Guidelines of the German Association of Engineers for Evaluating Human Work in the Digital Factory

OCCUPATIONAL APPLICATIONS

Starting with the first part of a guideline in 2001, a group of experts and the associated guideline committee of the German Association of Engineers (VDI) began with the production-logistical evaluation of human work related to simulation procedures and Digital Factory tools. This VDI guideline 3633 part 6 dealt with the first macro-ergonomic procedures available. Published in 2015, in VDI guideline 4499 part 4, micro-ergonomic problems related to human stress from work task were added. Nowadays, the still missing micro-ergonomic evaluation of effects by the work environment is on the way to be published as VDI guideline 4499 part 5. This article deals with these developments, which are considered state of the art in Germany at least at the time of their publication. In addition, some examples illustrate proven possibilities, but existing gaps are also discussed.

TECHNICAL ABSTRACT

Background

Nowadays, simulation procedures and Digital Factory tools represent an essential part of planning production resources. Discrete event-driven simulation mainly concentrates on their production logistics evaluation. The increasing development of Digital Human Models brings ergonomic aspects into focus. These methods take into account the stress from the work task, but not from the work environment.

Purpose

Using simulation methods, little attention has been paid to macro-ergonomic analyzes. Micro-ergonomic human models primarily consider anthropometric and work-physiological aspects, but hardly any work-psychological or work-sociological issues. In addition, there is a lack of software procedures for evaluating the work environment in the Digital Factory. The purpose of this article is to summarize the achievements and to show existing gaps.

Methods

For developing a guideline part, an expert group of the German Association of Engineers (VDI) commissions a specific guideline committee. After approval by the expert group, the editorial processing is carried out by the VDI organization. Only then does a preliminary publication take place and, after any objections have been dealt with, the final VDI guideline part will be issued.

Results

VDI guidelines represent the state of the art in Germany, but do not have the status of a standard. The first guideline VDI 3633 part 6 dealt with the modeling of working humans in simulation procedures. In 2015, it was followed by the guideline VDI 4499 part 4, which was dedicated to ergonomic modeling of humans in the Digital Factory. The guideline VDI 4499 part 5 is currently about to be published. Its subject is the prediction of environmental influences on working humans.

Conclusions

The guideline parts developed show that there are still a major number of questions that require further research. The article briefly summarizes the knowledge gained.

Keywords:

• Digital factory
• simulation
• stress–strain concept
• work task
• work environment
• types of ergonomic prediction

Conflicts of Interest

The authors do not report any conflicts of interest that may have inappropriately influenced this work.

Acknowledgments

The author wishes to thank the German Association of Engineers as well as its Technical Committee 205 (Digital Factory) and related Guideline Committees for their support of the guideline works referred to in this article.

Correction Statement

This article has been republished with minor changes. These changes do not impact the academic content of the article.

Additional information

Funding

No funding source.