3D ergonomics-based motion-level productivity analysis for intelligent manufacturing in industrialized construction

Abstract

In industrialized construction, accurate estimations of labour productivity and associated cycle times of repetitive operations are crucial for reliable production planning and scheduling. However, the reliability of the standardized productivity and cycle time analyses is hindered by their dependence on various factors that change with the increasing complexity of the working environment, as well as by inherent challenges involved in acquiring accurate measurements. Thus, this study proposes an automated 3D ergonomics-based motion-level productivity analysis method for intelligent manufacturing in industrialized construction that combines an existing predetermined motion–time system with ergonomic risk assessments and 3D modelling techniques. The actual and simulated cycle times and ergonomic risks of preliminary cases in the experiment are analyzed to demonstrate the feasibility and reliability of the proposed method. The proposed method can be implemented to improve occupational safety, increase the reliability of planning and scheduling, and boost the overall productivity of industrialized construction.