Guidelines of the German Association of Engineers for Evaluating Human Work in the Digital Factory

OCCUPATIONAL APPLICATIONSStarting with the first part of a guideline in 2001, a group of experts and the associated guideline committee of the German Association of Engineers (VDI) began with the production-logistical evaluation of human work related to simulation procedures and Digital Factory tools. This VDI guideline 3633 part 6 dealt with the first macro-ergonomic procedures available. Published in 2015, in VDI guideline 4499 part 4, micro-ergonomic problems related to human stress from work task were added. Nowadays, the still missing micro-ergonomic evaluation of effects by the work environment is on the way to be published as VDI guideline 4499 part 5. This article deals with these developments, which are considered state of the art in Germany at least at the time of their publication. In addition, some examples illustrate proven possibilities, but existing gaps are also discussed.