Background of the Ergotool

To support the participatory and integral approach to improve ergonomics and efficiency of production lines, a software tool was developed within the PSIM project. It helps in the description and evaluation of current and future assembly processes. The E/S tool (Ergonomics/Sociotechnics) tool has five modules, lour of which deals with ergonomics: physical load. environmental hazards. mental load. and process flow characteristics. Together those four are called also as Ergotool. l'he focus of this chapter is on the background information and the development of the Ergotool. The procedural aspects ofthe tool are outlined in Chapter 10 (E/S tool). The tests of the Ergotool are described in Chapters I I (Volvo). 12 (Fintand Post). l3 (Fiat), 14 (Ford), and Chapter 15 (Yamatake).