New Product Development Ergonomics

Design translates to user comfort when ergonomics is involved into the design process. Ergonomics comprises of human engineering, where it involves physical and cognitive issues of the user in focus. Physical ergonomics is about human anthropometry, based on which human machine interfaces are decided. Cognitive ergonomics caters to the visual, psychological, socio-cultural sensibilities of the user in relation to the product or systems.

Goals and applications of human engineering researches:

• Support to design guidelines
  Technical Issues
• Support to norm integrating
  validating design and applying ergonomics
• Support to colorimetry
  Design Parameters definition through COGNITIVE ERGONOMICS
• Support to virtual prototyping

Applications of ergonomics researches:

• Support to technical & product analysis through cognitive ergonomics
• Support to communication

Different ergonomic checks are performed:

Aimed at the customer (postural ergonomics, visibility, accessibility, .)
Aimed at the manufacturer (components assembly, installation and assembly, .) and
Aimed at the maintenance operator (cleaning, maintenance, .).

The gap between design, engineering and ergonomics is bridged by virtual prototyping facilities, contributing to time reduction in comparison with a traditional project development process. Moreover, visualizing the ergonomic behaviors of the product in 3D virtual environment increases the perception and then the overall design process.