摘要

The aim of this research is to demonstrate the ergonomic process modeling and simulation of manual assembly work through virtual assembly approach in order to present workplace and process improvement prior to their physical prototyping. In this regard, a case study has been carried out to analyze an assembly workplace of a diesel engine by ergonomics simulation and virtual assembly approach. DELMIA, a software tool, has been exploited for the ergonomic simulation and analysis in virtual assembly environment. The case study demonstrates several improvements in the ergonomics of the operators performing assembly on production line of the diesel engine. The assembly process of last few stations of the diesel engine simulated and analyzed on DELMIA in order to exhibit the advantages of the virtual assembly approach to the workplace deign and saving of process time and energy expenditure of operator. On last station of the engine assembly line, parts are assembled relatively at higher and complex positions and it is difficult for an operator to assembly them. Since, the assembly is carried out on conveyor;it is not convenient to change the height of conveyor to overcome the problem. Therefore, height of the floor of last work station is altered / increased. In order to achieve the increased floor height, a number of benches of variable heights are placed on the floor on the last working station one by one in the simulation environment and simulation of the process is carried out. The simulation results show that the ergonomics of operators have significantly changed by altering working height of the operator. Simulation of second last and other working station has also been performed by altering the height of the floor, but no improvements in the ergonomics of the operator observed for these stations.