Ergonomic school furniture design with product engineering approach

The general purpose of this study is to provide suggestions for making school desks suitable for student anthropometry with the help of computer-assisted ergonomic analysis software combined with motion capture system. This study was carried out in three stages. In the first stage, the anthropometric data and the dimensions of the school desks used by the 890 students studying between 1st to 12th grades in Mugla provincial center were recorded and analyzed. In the second stage, according to the anthropometric data obtained, using the equations suggested in the literature, average school desk dimensions were determined at each grade level. The determined dimensions were compared with the relevant standards and the currently used dimensions. In the third stage, 12 student and 36 rows were modelled in the AMS (Anybody Modeling System) software based on the data gathered from motion capture system and measurements of prior stages. Activation and reactions on the musculoskeletal system were analyzed by matching the modellings in listening, reading and writing positions. According to the results of the analyses on the findings obtained from anthropometric data, especially between the grades of 1 to 8, it was observed that the physical growth of students are rapid; while, it slows down at the grades between 9 to 12. Thus, it was determined that some critical parameters of the school desks used between 1 to 8 grades did not comply with the anthropometric measurements. The results obtained from computer-aided ergonomic analysis applications showed that the suggested school desk dimensions yielded better results in all three sitting positions compared to the current and standard specified school desk dimensions. These results also confirmed the incompatibility of current dimensions. In addition, results gave the opportunity to make ergonomic evaluations with respect to fundamental design parameters of school desk such as seat height and tabletop height, In general terms, this study proved that state of the art ergonomic analysis techniques are useful instruments in school furniture design. In the future, with the increasing number of such studies, it is highly likely that the concept of healthier and personalized furniture designs will be realized.