Workers in furniture-making workshops often perform repetitive tasks and adopt awkward postures, increasing their risk of musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs). Instead of traditional ergonomic assessments, advanced digital tools like CATIA-based Digital Human Modeling (DHM) combined with the Rapid Upper Limb Assessment (RULA) for accurate postural risk analysis. In this study, actual task data of workers performing four common furniture making tasks (i.e., wood lifting, carrying, cutting, and surface smoothing) were collected through video recordings and photographs. Additionally, virtual models were created in CATIA to assess ergonomics risk using RULA and suggest posture improvements. Results indicated that workers performing all selected tasks adopted high-risk postures, with RULA scores ranging from 6 to 7, which exceeded acceptable limits, highlighting the need for ergonomic improvements. CATIA-based simulations further confirmed that work posture modifications can effectively reduce postural risks (i.e., reducing the RULA score to ‘3’) and improve overall ergonomic conditions. The study highlights significant postural risks among local furniture-making workers, emphasizing the need for ergonomic improvement to reduce MSDs. Implementing CATIA-based Digital Human Modeling with RULA analysis can effectively identify hazardous postures and guide working posture modifications for enhanced worker safety and efficiency.
Track: Human Factors and Ergonomics Competition
Published in: 8th IEOM Bangladesh International Conference on Industrial Engineering and Operations Management, Dhaka, Bangladesh
Publisher: IEOM Society International
Date of Conference: December 20
-21
, 2025
ISBN: 979-8-3507-4441-5
ISSN/E-ISSN: 2169-8767