Browsing by Author "Spada, Stefania"

Now showing 1 - 3 of 3
  • Thumbnail Image
    ItemOpen Access
    Applications and benefits of digital human models to improve the design of workcells in car’s manufacturing plants according to international standards
    (Cranfield University Press, 2013-09-19) Spada, Stefania; Germanà, Danila; Ghibaudo, Lidia; Sessa, Fabrizio
    During last years, the car’s manufacturing process has deeply changed because of several factors affected the automotive global scenario. As a consequence, design methodologies of the plant’s workcells have changed. In particular, ergonomics for manufacturing system has become a key factor to improve product’s quality, safety and work organization. In this paper, the authors show the approach used in Fiat Group Automobiles (FGA) based on simulation tools to analyse ergonomic aspects of work-cells already in design phase. Simulation tools allow a deep postural analysis that is one of the main criticism in the design phase. The principles of Digital Human Modeling have been used to develop an easy internal virtual manikin, the Human Model. The tool, based on ISO standards and on a worldwide anthropometric database, allows designers to simulate the most probable postures engaged by operator during work tasks as well as to validate improvements and corrective actions.
  • Thumbnail Image
    ItemOpen Access
    Digital manufacturing in fiat group automobiles: virtual simulations for preliminary ergonomics optimization of workcells in the design phase of a new car model
    (Cranfield University Press, 2013-09-19) Spada, Stefania; Frascà, Fabrizio; Sessa, Fabrizio
    New standards on work organization in the automotive industry, require a new concept of design methods: the human centred process. In Fiat Group Automobiles (FGA) the “Digital Manufacturing” (DM) project has started with the goal to create simulation tools and methods to improve the design of new cars’manufacturing processes giving a special attention to manual operations. The DM approach is based on a detailed “virtual plant” where virtual mannequins interact with digital models of car’s components, equipment, containers, etc. in order to simulate and improve working conditions with many benefits on ergonomics, safety, final product quality, work organization and general production costs. The key factor for this approach is that with DM methodologies, designers and engineers have, already in the design phase of a new car’s manufacturing process, a preliminary estimation of the numerical indices used in the plants to check if workcells are compliant to international standards and regional safety laws. In this way the most important ergonomic indices (like Niosh, Snook & Ciriello, EAWS, etc.) become a “design tool” that allow to change/improve project solutions (designing easy and comfortable work tasks, equipment, tools, etc.) and to distribute the work load in an optimal way between workers.
  • Thumbnail Image
    ItemOpen Access
    Human centred manufacturing: methodology for ergonomic previsional evaluation of manual assembly operations
    (Cranfield University Press, 2013-09-19) Di Pardo, Massimo; Monferino, Rossella; Spada, Stefania; Costantino, Marco
    The challenge of flexibility and productivity for manufacturing operations needs a new concept based on “human-centered manufacturing process”. This concept must consider basically the ergonomics of workplaces and workload balancing. The application of this concept is achievable through the detailed knowledge of the interaction between human and workplace, in particular as far as the mechanical load (or work load) arising from product design and from manufacturing process definition (included tools and equipment). The measurement of workload then is a fundamental for new (and existing) workplaces. In this paper is described the methodology that considers the procedure and instruments for measuring ergonomic parameters and the use of EAWS method to assess the ergonomic risk level of the workplace summarized by a score. EAWS considers postural aspects and dynamics of work activity. Design or modification of the workplace can be defined on base of the results obtained by the methodology application.