Three-Dimensional Workspace for Industrial Workstations

Abstract

Direct anthropometric measurements of maximum functional reach points were made for male and female populations to determine a three-dimensional (3D) workspace for industrial workstation design. The reach distances in the workspace spectrum were not constantly proportional to the arm length of a man or woman. It was shown that the conventionally determined workspace envelope could not be reached by 95% of the population but, rather, by only 73% of men and 75% of women. A new method was developed to determine the 3D workspace for any percentile for which the corresponding percentage population could actually reach and work efficiently. The percentile workspaces determined by the conventional and new methods were compared and found to be significantly different. Actual or potential applications of this research include designs of industrial workstations, equipment, tools, and products.