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Automotive manufacturing presents unique challenges for ergonomic analysis. The variety of tasks and frequencies are typically not seen in other industries. Moving these challenges into the realm of digital human modeling poses new challenges and offers the opportunity to create and enhance tools brought over from the traditional reactive approach. Chiang et al. (2006) documented an enhancement to the Siemen's Jack Static Strength Prediction tool. This paper will document further enhancements to the ErgoSolver (formerly known as the Ford Static Strength Prediction Solver).

Often, ergonomists need to determine the maximum acceptable load or force for a given task. Ergonomic tools, like the NIOSH Lifting Guidelines (Waters et al, 1993) and the Liberty Mutual Tables (Snook & Ciriello, 1991)), provide such loads for selected population percentiles. In contrast, the UGS Jack Static Strength Prediction tool (JSSP), based on the University of Michigan’s 3D Static Strength Prediction Program (3DSSPP), uses force(s) as inputs and calculates the percentage of the male or female population that would be capable (%Cap) for a given task. Typically, the %Cap threshold will be a fixed number determined from corporate or government guidelines (e.g. 75% of females). Thus, in order to find the acceptable load, users of JSSP must iterate through loads until they find a %Cap that is just below their predetermined threshold.