• Berlin, Cecilia
• Heilala, Juhani
• Lind, Salla
• Viitaniemi, Juhani

Abstract

Production systems consist of complex combinations ofhuman-and-machine interactions, material flows, energytransitions and workflows. Additionally, productionenterprises are challenged with handling theenvironmental impacts and societal effects of theirprocesses - including workplace ergonomics. One way oftesting different system solutions quickly, early and atlow cost (or consequence) is to use computer-basedsimulation. This paper introduces the productionsimulation tool SIMTER, which allows users to build a 3Danimated model of a human-machine work system and explorethe output consequences of different Levels of Automation(ranging from letting tasks be performed by either ahuman worker, a human worker using a range of tools, oran automated machine). The SIMTER tool facilitatesconcurrent assessment of Ergonomics, Automation Levelsand Environmental Impacts. Development work to date hasshown that combining these factors is technicallyfeasible and potentially very useful for integratingergonomics into design processes.

Topics

• impedance spectroscopy