The ergonomic design of workstations using virtual manufacturing and response surface methodology

The increasing use of computerized tools for virtual manufacturing in works tation design has two main advantages over traditional methods; first, it e nables the designer to examine a large number of design solutions; and seco nd, simulation of the work task may be performed in order to obtain the val ues of various performance measures. In this paper a new structural methodo logy for the workstation design is presented. Factorial experiments and the response surface methodology are integrated in order to reduce the number of examined design solutions and obtain an estimate for the best design con figuration with respect to multi-objective requirements.