ENGR. YOSHIKI B. KURATA, CIE, AAE, MSc.

IE, CLSSGB
Course Instructor
CONTENTS

Engineering Anthropometry

Manual Materials Handling

Workstation Design
 ENGINEERING
ANTHROPOMETRY
OBJECTIVES

At the end of this lesson, you are expected to be able to:

❑ Define anthropometry
❑ Discuss the importance of anthropometry
❑ Identify the necessary anthropometric data for a given design
❑ Differentiate static to dynamic measurements
❑ Accurately measure body dimensions (in steady and action state)
❑ Identify the best design principle for a specific application
❑ Correctly compute for the necessary statistics in an anthropometric
design
❑ Identify the effects of poorly-designed systems
❑ Identify real-life applications of engineering anthropometry.
BRIEF HISTORY

• An outgrowth of Physical Anthropometry

– Initially an attempt to differentiate among fossils to distinguish among races and
ethnic groups of humans, identify criminals and aid in making medical diagnoses.

• More recently used in industrial settings

– Development of engineering requirements and evaluation of vehicles, worksites
and clothing.
WHY ANTHROPOMETRY?

✓ To design workplaces, equipment and

the physical environment to fit the
characteristics and capabilities of most
people in a complex task.

✓ Poorly designed equipment or

environment may lead to injuries.
EXAMPLES

• Sinks that are too low

• Handrails that are too high

• Pants that fit the hips but are too loose at the waist.
WHAT IS ANTHROPOMETRY?

❑ The science of measurement and the art of application that establishes

the physical geometry, mass properties, and strength capabilities of the
human body.
❑ Derived from the terms anthropos (human) and metrikos (pertaining to
measurement) - Adolphe Quetelet
❑ One of the basic tools for the analysis and development of engineering
design requirements
❑ Analysis of forces and torques during manual material handling,
accommodation comfort and general human performance.
❑ Influences many Human Factors and Ergonomics aspects of
physiology and psychology of comfort.
ANTHROPOMETRIC CONSIDERATIONS

o Sizes
o Proportions
o Mobility
o Strengths
o Other factors that define human beings physically
USES OF ANTHROPOMETRY

❑ Evaluate postures and distances to reach controls.

❑ Specify clearances separating the body from hazards such as

surrounding equipment.

❑ Identify objects or elements that constrict movement.

KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS REQUIRED

❑ Anatomy
❑ locations, names and shapes of
bones and muscles
❑ how to read measurement scales,
measure weighs and how to handle
instruments
❑ for advanced technologies,
understanding of principles of
electronics, lasers, photography and
video devices
KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS REQUIRED

Anatomy – Body Planes and Orientation

KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS REQUIRED

❑ Statistical principles and methodologies

❑ Mathematics, concepts of mass properties, force and torque
❑ Planning and organizing time and processes
❑ Good language skills and facility in writing scientific material
ANTHROPOMETRIC MEASURES

❑ Static / Structural Dimensions

❑ Dynamic / Functional Dimensions

WHAT TO MEASURE?

❑ Baseline Definitions
❑ Body segment, lengths and height
❑ Breadth, depths and circumferences
❑ Surface contours
❑ Body volumes, densities and areas
❑ Envelopes of reach
❑ Postures
❑ Standard sitting and strength
❑ Standard upright sitting
❑ Leaned against a wall with back flattened
and buttocks facing the wall
❑ Lying on the back
❑ Other postures depending on task being
analyzed
WHAT TO MEASURE?
WHAT TO MEASURE?
DEVICES AND PROCEDURES

✓ Manual Anthropometrical Instruments

✓ Grip board and blocks
✓ Anthropometers
✓ Calipers
✓ Flexible tapes
✓ Goniometers
✓ Indirect Methods
✓ Photography
✓ Video Recording
✓ Lasers and Optical Surface Scanning
Methods – Internal Imaging
✓ X-rays
✓ Methods of measuring mass properties
✓ Weighing Scales
REPORTING DATA

❑ Photograph / diagram to illustrate each measurement

❑ Descriptions of:
❑ Methods used to select subjects
❑ Demographics of the resulting sample
❑ Intent for each measurement
❑ Methods for marking or finding landmarks
❑ How dimensions were obtained
❑ What instruments were used
❑ Description of how statistics were calculated
❑ Body Image Disturbance
❑ Any form of cognitive, affective, behavioral or perceptual disturbance that is
directly concerned with an aspect of physical appearance
❑ Usually associated with weight and eating problems
ANTHROPOMETRIC INFORMATION

✓ US Soldiers were measured extensively for uniforms, armor

and equipment.

✓ represents one of the most extensively documented human group

✓ Studies have been done in other Asian countries such as

Taiwan, Japan, Hong Kong, etc., most of which are industry-
specific.
STATISTICS AND ANTHROPOMETRY

❑ Most data are normally distributed

❑ Most parametric statistics procedures are applicable
❑ Issues on variability include
❑ Measurement
❑ Intra-individual
❑ Inter-individual
❑ Secular
❑ Heavy use of percentiles
❑ Establishes exclusions
❑ Selection of subjects for fit tests
❑ Any dimension can be located exactly
❑ Selection of users of products
ANTHROPOMETRIC CONSIDERATIONS

❑ User population definition

❑ Percentile range

❑ Misuse of 50th percentile

❑ Summation of segment dimensions

❑ Percentiles within a category of data are exclusive

DESIGN PRINCIPLES

Design for All

Design for Adjustment

Design for Several Sizes

Design for Extreme Individuals

ADJUSTMENTS IN MEASUREMENTS

CLOTHING

SHOES

HATS

OTHERS
THE SKELETAL SYSTEM

Bones
– the human skeleton is
normally composed of 206
bones, with connective
tissues and articulations

– the skeletal bone provides

an internal framework for
the whole body
THE SKELETAL SYSTEM

❑ Connective Tissues
❑ MUSCLES are the organs that generate force and movement
❑ TENDONS are strong elastic tissues connecting muscles to bones
❑ LIGAMENTS connect bones and provide capsules around joints
❑ CARTILAGE is a translucent, vicoelastic, flexible material, as articulation
surfaces at the joints

❑ Joints
❑ Body links that determine the human mobility
❑ Maximal displacements of the body define the range of motion.
RANGE OF MOTION
RANGE OF MOTION
THE SKELETAL SYSTEM

SPINAL COLUMN
❑ the spine consists of 24 movable
vertebras which are fused groups of
rudimentary bones

❑ the spine protects the spinal cord

❑ the spine is capable of withstanding

loads, yet flexible enough to allow a
large range of motion
BACK PAIN

o The spinal column is often the location of injury, pain and

discomfort because it continuously transmit internal and
external strains.

o Back pain results from a combination of repetitive trauma

and the normal aging process.

o Overexertion injuries have been traced to the compression of

spinal discs, particularly the lumbar area.
HUMAN STRENGTH

❑ Muscle Strength – maximal tension or force that a muscle

can develop voluntarily between its origin and insertion.

❑ Body Segment Strength – force or torque that can be applied

by a body segment to an object external to the body. The
body segment may be the hand, elbow, shoulder, back or
foot.
DESIGNING FOR BODY STRENGTH

▪ Is strength use mostly static or dynamic?

▪ if static, use isometric strength capabilities
▪ if dynamic, use also physical endurance, environmental conditions
▪ Is the exertion by hand, foot or whole body?
▪ foot motion generally consumes more energy, is less accurate and is generally
slower than hand motion (but stronger)
▪ Is a maximal or minimal strength exertion the critical design factor?
▪ Maximal user: strongest operator should not break a handle or pedal
▪ Minimal user: weakest operator still yield desired result
HUMAN STRENGTH ASSESSMENT

✓ Strength is influenced by motivation and the physical

conditions under which it is exerted

✓ Body strength is measured using analog or digital

dynanometers
RECENT TRENDS

❑ Use of computer for modeling humans demand a major shift

in future measurement goals

❑ New electronic imaging technology has an increasing impact

on anthropometric methods

❑ Determination of true percentage accommodation is favored

over common – percentile manikins
WORKSPACE DESIGN & EVALUATION

❑ Automotive Vehicle Interiors

❑ Body posture selection and foot location

❑ Eye position

❑ Reach envelopes

❑ Human and cabin dimensions

WORKSPACE DESIGN & EVALUATION

❑ Airplane Cockpits

❑ Design specification layout

❑ Clearance and adjustment envelopes

WORKSPACE DESIGN & EVALUATION

❑ Aircraft Passenger Accomodations

❑ Shin clearance for seating

❑ Shoulder clearance for sitting

❑ Design of lavatories for handicapped

people
WORKSPACE DESIGN & EVALUATION

❑ Computer Workstation Furniture

❑ Computer tables

❑ Task chairs
ANTHROPOMETRIC PERCENTILES
SUMMARY

❑ Anthropometric data can be applied to human factors problems in the

development of design criteria and the evaluation of design criteria and
the evaluation of design concepts at various stages of the project, or
even as a selection and screening method for the workers.

❑ There are many options currently available for obtaining useful

measurement data.

❑ Even if all desired data have not been directly measured, one can still
estimate many useful dimensions.