SOME ASPECTS OF ERGONOMICS IN ASSEMBLY PLANNING

The recognition that there are not only humane but also economic reaso ns for improving work conditions for serial assembly workers is reflec ted in a new engine assembly system at Mercedes Bent AG. This system w as planned by Mercedes Bent AG in collaboration with the Fraunhofer-In stitute for Industrial Engineering, Stuttgart. This new assembly syste m offers the following advantages: planning with ergonomic-oriented pl anning techniques (e.g., videosomatography, personnel-oriented simulat ion) individually adjustable height at every workstation individual di rection of entrance at every workstation individual information system with terminals at every workstation The purpose of this article is to describe the ergonomic advantages of the assembly system, the individ ual planning steps it involves, and finally, the actual realization of the system.