R. Solomon

Bio: R. Solomon is an academic researcher from Indian Institutes of Technology. The author has an hindex of 1, co-authored 1 publications receiving 3 citations.

Ergonomic Evaluations and Design Interventions for Shop-Floors Dealing with Chemical Conversion Coatings: Case Study from India

Abstract: India being one of the world’s largest automobile manufacturers provides a massive platform for establishing large numbers of chemical conversion coating industries. Industrial shop-floors dealing with the surface conversion coating processes are not well-planned and ergonomically sound. In many instances, the predominance of the sub-standardized workplace, work-accessories and process planning in these factories are not only affecting the performance, efficiency and wellbeing of the workers but also the productivity. To address these issues, the present research was carried out for ergonomic evaluation of the existing scenario of working conditions in factory shop-floors and to come up with the user friendly design of workstations/work-accessories, better process layout and operation sequences with the intention of improved occupational health, safety and productivity. For implementation of the proposed design and checking its effectiveness, virtual ergonomics technique using digital human model was adopted. Ergonomic intervention strategies reported in the present research would be very useful for redesigning of existing plating factories and setting up similar new factories.

Applications and research trends of digital human models in the manufacturing industry

Abstract: Virtual reality (VR) has been widely used in various manufacturing industries, and VR-based virtual manufacturing has received significant attention in the current intelligent manufacturing era. Digital human models (DHMs) are essential for virtual manufacturing applications. Additionally, researching new applications of DHMs has developed into an important academic research field. This paper aims to identify the applications and research trends of DHMs in the manufacturing industry and to provide a reference for the continued development of virtual manufacturing and DHMs. We selected a total of 49 related articles from a large number of articles published between 2014 and 2019. The applications of DHMs in the manufacturing industry are analyzed from different perspectives and various relevant technical limitations are discussed. The results indicate that the applications of DHMs differ significantly between different types of fields. The automotive industry is the main application field for DHMs, and assembly/maintenance simulations and evaluations are the main application types. Additionally, there are still some limitations in the establishment of virtual environments, motion control, and DHM evaluation that should be addressed. Finally, research trends in the application of DHMs are illustrated and discussed, including the planning and assessment of human-robot collaboration systems, the combination of DHMs and augmented reality, and improved motion planning for DHMs. In summary, the application of DHMs can improve the realism and effectiveness of virtual manufacturing, and DHMs will be more widely and deeply studied and applied in various manufacturing industries in the near future.

Scope of Improvement in Assembly-line of FMCG Industries through Ergonomic Design

Abstract: In the industry 4.0 era, the assembly-line work forms the basis of various manufacturing industries, viz. the automotive, the electronic component manufacturing, and the Fast Moving Consumer Goods (FMCG). FMCG assembly-lines are distinct from the automotive and the electronic component manufacturing assembly-lines. These are high paced, and semi-automatic in nature and comprises short-cycled repetitive work. The researchers and engineers have taken several different approaches to improve the assembly-line related work in automotive and electronic component manufacturing industries, from a design and ergonomics perspective. However, very little is known about such design and ergonomic interventions pertaining to FMCG assembly-lines. This paper aims to find out to what extent the same/similar approaches associated with ergonomic design interventions applied in assembly-line work in diverse industrial sectors can be adopted/applied to the FMCG sector to improve productivity and OSH following the state-of-the-art literature review. Hence, the current paper assesses the need and determines the scope of ‘Ergonomic Design Interventions’ in assembly-line-related work in the FMCG sector. In this paper, authors have emphasized and advocated implementing ergonomic principles in assembly-line work of the FMCG sector in conjunction with productivity enhancement tools/techniques to ensure enhanced OSH and productivity.

Preliminary Survey in FMCG Shop-Floors to Understand Operational Activities for Identifying Ergonomic Stressors: A Case Study from North-East India

Abstract: AbstractFast Moving Consumer Goods (FMCG) industries dwelling on high-paced assembly-lines and highly-repetitive short-cycled work producing high volume-low cost products under Just In Time (JIT) production process contributes a lot to every country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and employment generation. Supported by various government schemes and initiatives, the FMCG industries flourish throughout India, and north-east India is a prominent hub for FMCG business houses. Traditionally, the FMCG manufacturing units built upon the pre-defined plot sizes provided in industrial parks lack the thorough consideration of ergonomic aspects within facility layout planning and other machinery installation early from the commissioning phase. It affects productivity and leads to other Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) issues. Considering the FMCG industries’ significant role in the Indian economy and society, the researchers conducted an in-depth survey of the FMCG industries (located in north-east India) to understand the operational activities and identify ergonomic stressors which hampers the overall productivity and safety. During the field visits and survey, it was observed that there is an immediate need for thorough ergonomic consideration in implemented Kaizens, standardization of work activities, and implementation of context-specific tools for the FMCG work. Detailed ergonomic studies are further required to propose context-specific ergonomic interventions, which may be behavioral, organizational, or design-related. Such interventions will prove beneficial for promoting better OSH and thereby improved efficiency and productivity.KeywordsErgo-auditIndustrial shop-floorKaizenLean manufacturingWMSDsOSHSafetyUser-centered design

Evaluation of Crew Protection Performance and Ergonomic Design Aspects of a Light Combat Vehicle During Its Conceptualization Stage

Abstract: The present research aimed to develop a digital mock-up of a futuristic light combat vehicle following a systematic design process with due consideration of crew protection and ergonomics aspects. The overall form (hull-shape) of the vehicle was conceived for high protection capability from the firing of projectiles Armor piercing (AP) rounds. Protection performance of the armoured body was evaluated in terms of the strength-to-weight ratios. For this purpose, protection capability influencing factors like effective thickness, deflection angle and material density of the armoured body was considered. Comparison of the protection capability of the conceptualized vehicle with the existing one was presented in graphical pattern using MS-Excel programme. To check the compatibility of the components in the digital mock-ups of the vehicle with the targeted users, percentile digital manikins (5th, 50th and 95th p) were developed from the anthropometric database of Indian army personnel, using CATIA V-5 software. Comparison of protection performance demonstrated the superiority of the concept model over the existing vehicle. Following a few iterations, the final concept model was able to exhibit that change of forms and materials has a radical impact on protection capability even without compromising lightweight which is crucial for maintaining its rapid mobility. Following ergonomic evaluations, it was ascertained that the final design was well-suited for a wide range of army personnel by considering particular needs of body dimensions, the range of motion of body joints, spinal load and visual aspects.