Application of Digital Human Modelling concepts for automotive production

In this paper concepts and results in Digital Human Modelling within the automotive enterprise are described. It will be shown, how targets like reduction of health based lack, selection and best-fit practises for tools and supporting elements, i.e. jigs or fixtures, as well as logistical devices integration and adaptation on ergonomic view can be easier achieved within innovative digital solutions. Furthermore, the integration of such technologies leads also to relevant improvements in optimising and balancing production processes and in increasing productivity and product-assembly. Within the methods described in this paper an opportunity for rectifying enterprise-intern ergonomic regulations in planning assembly tasks will be offered. Exemplary shop-floor personal activities within the automotive production have been analysed and evaluated according to international standards, like RULA, in order to recognize hazardous statically and dynamically postures. The obtained results were compared with the specific automotive enterprise requirements, in order to underlie con-/divergences. The first 3D simulation tests have shown high performance and adaptability motivating, thus, to investigate further exemplar assembly activities in order to eventually transfer the achieved results to the real assembly plants.