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Human factors automatic evaluation for entire maintenance processes in virtual environment

Shiguang Qiu (Institute of Computer Integrated Manufacturing, Shanghai Jiaotong University, Shanghai, China)
Yunfei Yang (Institute of Computer Integrated Manufacturing, Shanghai Jiaotong University, Shanghai, China)
Xiumin Fan (Institute of Computer Integrated Manufacturing, Shanghai Jiaotong University, Shanghai, China)
Qichang He (Institute of Computer Integrated Manufacturing, Shanghai Jiaotong University, Shanghai, China)

Assembly Automation

ISSN: 0144-5154

Article publication date: 9 September 2014

521

Abstract

Purpose

The paper aims to propose a systematic approach for human factors (HFs) automatic evaluation for entire maintenance processes in virtual environment.

Design/methodology/approach

First, a maintenance process information model is constructed to map real maintenance processes into computer environment. Next, based on this information model, the automatic evaluation methods for visibility, operation comfort and reachability are presented. All evaluation results are weighted and added up to establish a comprehensive HFs evaluation model. Then, the methods mentioned above are realized as an HFs evaluation module, which is integrated into virtual maintenance simulation platform, software developed by our lab.

Findings

An application in HFs evaluation of repairing hydraulic motor on container spreader is implemented, and an on-site survey is carried out. The comparison between the result from the survey and the result we get using the presented methods shows that our solution can support HFs fast assessment accurately and effectively.

Practical implications

Through evaluating maintenance operation processes, engineers can better analyze and validate the maintainability design of complex equipment, and some potential ergonomic issues can be found and dealt earlier.

Originality/value

The paper contributes to present a systematic approach to achieve HFs fast and accurate evaluation for entire maintenance processes, rather than for a few maintenance postures.

Keywords

Acknowledgements

The work is supported by the Program “NCET” from MOE and National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 51475291). The authors are also grateful to the editors and anonymous reviewers for helpful comments.

Citation

Qiu, S., Yang, Y., Fan, X. and He, Q. (2014), "Human factors automatic evaluation for entire maintenance processes in virtual environment", Assembly Automation, Vol. 34 No. 4, pp. 357-369. https://doi.org/10.1108/AA-04-2014-028

Publisher

:

Emerald Group Publishing Limited

Copyright © 2014, Emerald Group Publishing Limited

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