Proplanner Supports Several Ergo Assessments Within our Software

Ergonomics

Leverage time standard, work instruction, and line balance data in ergonomic assessments to reduce efforts identifying and improving high-risk assignments. Proplanner supports the REBA, Std-Muri, EM-Muri, EAWS, and OCRA ergonomics assessment methods. Each time measurement method has unique attributes that lends itself to different ergonomics assessments.

The following table shows the current list of ergonomics assessment methods available for each time measurement standard along with if the ergonomics score calculation and reporting are performed internal to Proplanner or if it is exported to a user-definable MSExcel spreadsheet template.

Ergonomics standards are often changing so Proplanner often adds, and sometimes even modifies support for ergonomics and time standard integrations based on client or industry requirements, so it is important to keep Proplanner aware of any standards you are using or would like to use. Watch our webinar over how Proplanner's Ergonomics module may benefit you here.

Standard Assessment Approach

Use a single standard to evaluate all manual assembly processes.
Customize motion assessment categories and weighted factors.
REBA
- REBA (Rapid Entire Body Assessment) one-page ergonomic assessment tool uses a systematic process to evaluate whole-body postural MSD and risks associated with job tasks.
MURI (Std/EM)
- MURI comes from the Japanese concept for actions beyond one’s power. Standardization of the MURI ergonomics concepts originated from an Italian University. The differences between Standard MURI and Empowered MURI (EMMURI) are explained in the Standard vs Empowered section.
OCRA
- The Occupational Repetitive Actions (OCRA) is an ISO ergonomics standard developed for measuring the risk of overload of the upper limbs and is typically used for an operators’ arms/hands.
EAWS
- European Assembly Worksheet or EAWS is a tool used to identify ergonomic risk factors. Often found with MTM based systems and popular in Germany.

Single Authoring Environment

Multiple departments can edit process-related data, including time, ergonomic, and other assessments, in the same system. Ownership and editing permissions can be controlled.
Ergonomic data is rolled up for each operator so that ergonomic considerations can be made for line balancing decisions.
Leverage a single definition of the process to reduce duplication of effort by different individuals and teams.
Reduce errors and oversight by conducting all analysis and generating all reports from a single data set.

Link to Time Studies and Line Balancing

Save time and improve accuracy by automatically generating ergonomic assessments based on time and motion codes (MOST and MTM).
Use the same video that was used for the time study to perform analysis.
Visualize ergonomic load on each operator for a proposed line re-balance.

Why use Proplanner when you already use a risk factor checklist or specialized ergonomic tools?

Proplanner can be complementary and used as a next step after a job has been identified as a concern.
Ensure consistency between the standard process defined by assembly engineering and the process being studied by the ergonomic engineer.
Provides data for predicting ergonomic impact for future state line balancing.
Ergonomic data can be rolled up in reports that include other process data.

Proplanner's ergonomics framework allows for a thorough evaluation and analysis of each process while connecting the assembly and healthy & safety teams through a common definition of the process:

Ergonomics assessments are performed at the activity level, where activities can be reused and can be moved in line balancing.
The activity assessment data can be rolled up and analyzed at the operator, station, or line level.
Weighting factors and categories used for ergonomics scores can be adjusted by the user.
Ergonomics assessments are directly linked to time studies and can be connected to task videos.