Collaborative human-centered design of manufacturing tasks: a multi-user immersive VR experience

Abstract

Work-related musculoskeletal disorders are among the top factors impacting the individual’s performance and the overall company’s productivity. Virtual Reality (VR) has enabled proactive consideration of human factors. However, there are still barriers impeding the broader adoption of human-in-the-loop approaches, including the number and roles of people involved in simulation stages and the complexity of modelling lengthy task sequences. This paper presents a multi-user immersive VR simulation framework for collaborative human-centered task evaluation involving engineers and operators. The software architecture enabling multi-user VR sessions is discussed, together with a hierarchical approach for modelling complex manufacturing tasks in VR applications and collecting structured data from the simulations. Metrics such as heatmap and Rapid Upper Limb Assessment are integrated for informed decision-making about task redesign. The proposed approach was tested in a case study inspired by large parts manufacturing, where operators need to work in teams. The server-client network enabled the engineer to comprehensively assess the design of the task having two operators executing virtual actions in parallel as they would in the actual workstation. The collection of data from the team of operators and their intuitive visualization enhanced the effectiveness in identifying aspects introducing discomfort and assessing the overall suitability of the design for human operators.