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Abstract
In light of Industry 4.0, rapid analysis and optimization of manufacturing processes are emerging as a vital demand of smart manufacturing factories. Ergonomics is an essential aspect of the ongoing screening of working conditions and a fundamental variable in Industry 4.0, as it calls for a flexible manufacturing system to strengthen the competitiveness of factories in the global market. This paper proposes a new augmented reality-based ergonomic evaluation platform: Augmented Reality-based Ergonomic Platform (ARE Platform). Introducing the Augmented Reality technology by superimposing virtual planning objects into the physically existing production environment. Utilizing the motion capture system collects data for a set of ergonomic indexes (RULA, OWAS, and NIOSH), accessibility and visibility verification. ARE platform could be used in the verification phase of smart manufacturing systems to evaluate the level of risk to workers’ bodies during operations in real-time. The platform reduces the time and economic cost of verification and satisfies the rapid response of ergonomic evaluation and feedback in the context of smart manufacturing. Finally, the developed ARE platform is validated in two rigorous automotive assembly cases in the laboratory. Meanwhile, the ergonomic assessment results are analysed and reported for a people-oriented manufacturing system.
Acknowledgments
We express our sincere gratitude to BAIC Motor Corporation Ltd. for the case verification.
Disclosure statement
No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).
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Notes on contributors
Wanting Mao
Wanting Mao is a master student in School of Mechanical Engineering at Beijing Institute of Technology. Her primary research focussed on smart manufacturing system, ergonomics and augmented reality.
Yaoguang Hu
Yaoguang Hu received his PhD in Beihang University and is Professor in the School of Mechanical Engineering at Beijing Institute of Technology. His primary research focuses on smart manufacturing system and industrial product-service systems.
Xiaonan Yang
Xiaonan Yang received her PhD in University of Missouri and is Assistant Professor in the School of Mechanical Engineering at Beijing Institute of Technology. Her primary research focuses on human-computer interaction and ergonomics.
Weibo Ren
Weibo Ren is a DE (Doctor of Engineering) student in School of Mechanical Engineering at Beijing Institute of Technology. His primary research focussed on operation research in industrial production and service system.
Haonan Fang
Haonan Fang is a master student in School of Mechanical Engineering at Beijing Institute of Technology. Her primary research focussed on smart manufacturing system and industrial engineering.