The module aims at providing the basic knowledge on the ergonomics for manufacturing systems, emphasizing how the “human centered” design of manufacturing processes and operation management may reduce the physical and mental workload sustained by the operator, improve his/her well-being and the system productivity (in the respect of gender issues and of people with special needs).
Engineers working in industrial processes must ensure the protection of the safety, health and well-being of people engaged in work. The work environment can affect a worker’s performance in different ways varying from work related musculo-skeletal disorders to effects that reduce the individual’s ability to perform a task or those that cause dissatisfaction and uncooperative attitudes. Knowledge and application of ergonomic principles aim at achieving an optimal fitting of the work environment and job activities to the worker, by understanding the function and interaction between the three essential elements of any work system: the human, the machine and the environment.
In this contest, the course aims at providing the basic knowledge on industrial ergonomics, emphasizing how the “human centered” design of manufacturing processes and operation management may reduce the physical and mental workload sustained by the operator, improve his/her well-being and the system productivity (in the respect of gender issues and of people with special needs). An important part of the course is devoted to Digital Human Modeling (DHM), a fundamental tool for a proactive approach to ergonomics as an element of introducing and evaluating human factors principles from the earliest stages of design.
The course also addresses how the recent changes in technology and production systems carry the potential to relieve the human worker from physically demanding tasks but may introduce new risk factors that need to be carefully considered by industrial engineers.
Knowledge on the main methods and tools of risk assessment, ergonomic design and evaluation of the workplace, digital human modeling, human-machine interaction
To develop skills in the applications of the ergonomic principles to work organization, workplace design, choice of work tools as well as in the definition of work and production methods. Hands-on training on software programs for digital human modeling in manufacturing systems is also part of the expected learning outcomes.
Knowledge of the ergonomic principles relative to work organization and to the verification and design of workplaces and work tools.
Knowledge of the main methods of risk assessment in work activities and for the integration of ergonomics in setting working times and in line balancing
To develop skills in the applications of the ergonomic principles to work organization, workplace design, choice of work tools as well as in the definition of work and production methods.
To develop skills for effective methodological support in view of the introduction of assistive device and automatic systems in the manufacturing process based on the human-centered approach
Hands-on training on software programs for digital human modeling in manufacturing systems is also part of the expected learning outcomes.
Equilibrium equations and free-body diagram determination. Rigid bodies kinematics. Main statistical distributions.
Equilibrium equations and free-body diagram determination. Rigid bodies kinematics. Main statistical distributions.
Basic Knowledge (6 hours)
o Static and functional anthropometric data. Databases and scaling techniques
o Use of percentiles in design. Types of design
o Elements of physical capabilities (mobility of joints, muscular strength and endurance). Data sources
Digital Human Modeling (8 hours + 12 hours of Computer Lab)
o Human manikins (classical percentile approach, human scale standard, multivariate manikins)
o Testing of reach-ability, body space and postural comfort
o Biomechanical modeling, loads at joints and strength percent capabilities
Workplace Design (14 hours)
o Work-related musculo-skeletal disorders. General classification and main risk factors
o Manual material handling. NIOSH lifting equation. Snook & Ciriello Tables
o Upper limb disorders. Hand intensive tasks. The OCRA method. Work tool design principles
o Complex work content and whole body risk methods. EAWS main structure and examples
o Legislation and standard overview for risk evaluation (ISO 11226; ISO 11228 series; EN 1005 series)
Work Measurement (12 hours)
o Principles and brief history of Time and Motion Studies. Main observational methods
o Predetermined Motion Time System. Main structure and example of MTM-UAS
o Integration of ergonomics in setting working times and in line balancing
Human-Machine Interaction (8 hours)
o Principles of human-machine interaction
o Ergonomics in Industry 4.0
o Human-oriented evaluation of cobots and exoskeletons
Basic Knowledge (6 hours)
o Static and functional anthropometric data. Databases and scaling techniques
o Use of percentiles in design. Types of design
o Elements of physical capabilities (mobility of joints, muscular strength and endurance). Data sources
Digital Human Modeling (6 hours + 18 hours of Computer Lab)
o Human manikins (classical percentile approach, human scale standard, multivariate manikins)
o Testing of reach-ability, body space and postural comfort
o Biomechanical modeling, loads at joints and strength percent capabilities
Workplace Design (14 hours)
o Work-related musculo-skeletal disorders. General classification and main risk factors
o Manual material handling. NIOSH lifting equation. Snook & Ciriello Tables
o Upper limb disorders. Hand intensive tasks. The OCRA method. Work tool design principles
o Complex work content and whole body risk methods.
o Legislation and standard overview for risk evaluation (ISO 11226; ISO 11228 series; EN 1005 series)
Work Measurement (8 hours)
o Principles and brief history of Time and Motion Studies. Main observational methods
o Predetermined Motion Time System. Main structure and example of MTM-UAS
o Integration of ergonomics in setting working times and in line balancing
Human-Machine Interaction (8 hours)
o Principles of human-machine interaction
o Ergonomics in Industry 4.0
o Human-oriented evaluation of cobots and exoskeletons
The course is organized in 36 hours of lessons, 12 hours of class tutorials and 12 hours of computer lab modules.
Class tutorials consist in the analysis of case studies and exercises for risk assessment method application. Problems are solved in class with the active participation of students.
Computer lab modules are dedicated to the ergonomic software Siemens Jack: 9 hours are dedicated to guided tutorials + 3 hours are dedicated to a final assigment students have to work on.
During the computer lab modules, students work in pairs. Each group of two students is responsible for uploading the simulation file at the end of the assigment and to prepare the power-point presentation they will discuss during the oral exam. It is not necessary that students belonging to the same group take the oral exam together.
The course is organized in 30 hours of lessons, 12 hours of class tutorials and 18 hours of computer lab modules.
Class tutorials consist in the analysis of case studies and exercises for risk assessment method application. Problems are solved in class with the active participation of students.
Computer lab modules are dedicated to the ergonomic software Siemens Jack: 12 hours are dedicated to guided tutorials + 6 hours are dedicated to a final assignment students have to work on in groups of two.
Students are requested to upload on the portal the simulation file of the final assignment prior to the oral exam and to prepare a power-point presentation of the final assignemtn they will discuss during the oral exam.
Documentation in help is prepared and distributed by lecturer.
Suggested books:
MS Sanders, EJ McCormick “Human Factors In Engineering and Design”- Mc Graw Hill.
D Meister, TP Enderwick “Human factors in system design, development and testing” – Taylor & Francis
Documentation in help is prepared and distributed by the lecturer.
Suggested books:
MS Sanders, EJ McCormick “Human Factors In Engineering and Design”- Mc Graw Hill.
D Meister, TP Enderwick “Human factors in system design, development and testing” – Taylor & Francis
Slides; Esercizi;
Lecture slides; Exercises;
Modalità di esame: Prova scritta (in aula); Prova orale obbligatoria; Elaborato progettuale in gruppo;
Exam: Written test; Compulsory oral exam; Group project;
...
The exam consists in a written test and an oral colloquium. The final mark will be the average of written and oral.
In the written test (didactic material at hand), students will be asked to solve 3-4 exercises, similar to those assigned during class tutorials, and to answer to open questions. The duration of the written test is 3 hours and the maximum score is 30/30. 18/30 is the minimum score to access the oral exam.
Examples of exercises from past exams are provided as part of the class tutorials. In addition, one or two full texts from past exams are published on the portal in the last month of the course for students to practice.
The oral exam will cover the material taught in the course. Students are expected to prove an overall understanding of the basic ergonomic principles as applied to the design and verification of workplaces as well as of the identification and application of risk assessment methods to different work contests. During the oral colloquium, students will also be asked to present and discuss the final assignment of the computer lab modules, illustrating the reasons for their choices in the evaluation and re-design in virtual of the workplace. The correctness of the work and the level of understanding demonstrated during its discussion are part of the evaluation of the oral exam.
Gli studenti e le studentesse con disabilità o con Disturbi Specifici di Apprendimento (DSA), oltre alla segnalazione tramite procedura informatizzata, sono invitati a comunicare anche direttamente al/la docente titolare dell'insegnamento, con un preavviso non inferiore ad una settimana dall'avvio della sessione d'esame, gli strumenti compensativi concordati con l'Unità Special Needs, al fine di permettere al/la docente la declinazione più idonea in riferimento alla specifica tipologia di esame.
Exam: Written test; Compulsory oral exam; Group project;
The exam is aimed at ascertaining knowledge of the topics listed in the official course program and the ability to apply the theory and related calculation methods to solving exercises
The exam consists in a written test and an oral colloquium. The final mark will be the average of written and oral.
In the written test (open books), students will be asked to solve 3 exercises on the topics illustrated in the course program and similar to the exercises assigned during class tutorials. The exercises comprise numerical calculations on risk assessment method computation and work organization protocols , as well as open questions which have the purpose of verifying the level of knowledge and understanding of the topics covered during the course. The duration of the written test is 2 hours and the maximum score is 30/30. 18/30 is the minimum score to access the oral exam.
Examples of exercises from past exams are provided as part of the class tutorials. In addition, one or two full texts from past exams are published on the portal in the last month of the course for students to practice.
The oral exam will cover the material taught in the course. Students are expected to prove an overall understanding of the basic ergonomic principles as applied to the design and verification of workplaces as well as of the identification and application of risk assessment methods to different work contests.
During the oral colloquium, students will be asked to present and discuss the final assignment of the computer lab modules, illustrating the reasons for their choices in the evaluation and re-design in virtual of the workplace. The correctness of the assigment and the level of understanding demonstrated during its discussion are part of the evaluation of the oral exam.
As illustrated in the section "Course Structure", students are requested to upload the simulation file of the final assignment prior to the oral exam. The power-point presentation needs to be prepared for the day of the oral exam.
In addition to the message sent by the online system, students with disabilities or Specific Learning Disorders (SLD) are invited to directly inform the professor in charge of the course about the special arrangements for the exam that have been agreed with the Special Needs Unit. The professor has to be informed at least one week before the beginning of the examination session in order to provide students with the most suitable arrangements for each specific type of exam.