The IBV develops a platform to interactively design and assess more ergonomic an efficient workplaces

Adapting workplaces to the characteristics of workers is key to maximising productivity and reducing injuries and errors. Considering aspects such as anthropometric, physiological and biomechanical characteristics—while taking into account the variability of the working population occupying these roles—are fundamental elements in the design of more ergonomic and, consequently, more efficient and productive work environments.

In addition to placing the worker at the centre of the design process, it is essential to ensure the coordinated involvement and participation of the other stakeholders engaged in it, such as occupational risk prevention professionals, industrial design specialists and HR managers.

In this context, IBV is developing the ERGOTWIN project, whose overarching objective is to advance knowledge for the development and implementation of a digital twin capable of simulating, analysing in real time and optimising workplace design interactively, incorporating the worker and other stakeholders into the process through a web-based tool that facilitates collaborative design.

ERGOTWIN research will be completed by the end of March and is currently in its final development phase.

In the words of Mercedes Sanchis, Director of Innovation in Occupational Health and Well-being at IBV, “The tool will enable the different stakeholders involved in the design process to access online 3D virtual environments. It will make it possible to navigate the digitised work environment to view it from different perspectives and to simulate typical job tasks performed using avatars representing different population profiles. In addition, it will include ergonomics and human factors functionalities within the interactive environments, enabling workplaces to be assessed from an ergonomic standpoint and supporting decision-making in their design.”

During the project, it has been necessary to work on the design of digital human models with appropriate characteristics that are representative of the industrial workforce, as well as to advance the modelling of people’s interactions with the work environment and the products present within it. This has involved developing ergonomics and human factors functionalities that enable the extraction of the maximum possible information from the human–product system and provide useful information to support decision-making across the different stages of the design process.

Collaboration with the footwear industry

ERGOTWIN has the active collaboration of well-established Valencian companies with extensive experience in the footwear sector, such as Panter, Paredes, PikoKaizen and Pies Cuadrados Leather. This business collaboration has helped steer the research towards addressing real needs in the design of productive and industrial environments in the footwear sector, and their valuable contribution to validating the project results helps to ensure direct transfer of those results to the business and industrial ecosystem.

Finally, it should be noted that the ERGOTWIN project is supported by the Conselleria d’Innovació, Indústria, Comerç i Turisme of the Generalitat Valenciana, through IVACE+i, and funded by the European Union through the ERDF Programme Comunitat Valenciana 2021–2027 (IMDEEA/2025/43).