Virtual ergonomics sounds like high-tech, a flood of data and technical jargon. But in reality, it's about something very simple: Less effort, more impact.
And not just for ergonomists or industrial engineers - but also for planners, managers and even workers themselves.
Less effort: ergonomics becomes part of everyday life
In the past, ergonomics was often a special project: elaborately planned, expensively implemented, rarely repeated.
Today, it can be realised with digital methods Integrate into existing processes:
directly in production planning
in the training of employees
in the optimisation of current processes
Ergonomics is therefore no longer seen as an additional task - but as a Part of smart planning and continuous improvement.
More output: Plan better, react faster
The virtual ergonomics make it possible, react quickly to changes:
New products? New systems? New requirements?
Once planned virtually, scenarios can be customised in no time at all - and without loss of time, without interrupting production. This means a better basis for decision-making in less time - despite increasing complexity.
Figure 8: Before (small images bottom left) and optimised status of the work process.
What the practice says
Companies that are already using virtual ergonomics report that:
✔️Up to 30 % faster planning time
✔️earlier identification of ergonomic risks
✔️better understanding in interdisciplinary teams
Ergonomics is efficiency
What was often labelled as a "nice to have" turns out to be a real Productivity factor:
Fewer absences due to illness
Greater process reliability
Shorter familiarisation times
Fewer planning errors
Virtual ergonomics delivers precisely the key figures that decision-makers need - whether for investment approval or plant strategy.
Figure 9: Ergonomic potential by work step and proportion of EAWS® risk score (purple frame).
Figure 10: Automatically generated job request profile including details depending on the category in ema Work Designer.
Conclusion: The lever for productivity that is often overlooked
Virtual ergonomics is not a tool for nerds.
It is a lever for more efficient processes, healthier workplaces and more economical decisions.
And it is ready to be scaled up - from the workbench to the boardroom.
