Autor: Jens Mühlstedt

Due to demographic change, fundamental transformations in economy and society can be identified in Germany and other European countries. The requirements on companies regarding increasing flexibility and innovation skills proceed parallel to demographic change. Hence, research on demographics in innovative working environments can deal with these changes in positive ways. The article describes two design tools: first the modular age explorer MAX which makes demographic change perceptible for young people and second flexible, generation-heterogeneous organizations which provide both innovation and value potential. These tools enable generation-heterogeneous communication and work systems for the researchers and all departments.

More and more virtual tools are used for issues of product ergonomics and human factors in production. This article describes the use of digital human models as virtual tools used in CAx systems, PLM systems and in the digital factory. An empirical study with users of these systems shows the benefits working with these systems and the problems, which have to be solved in the future. The main question, answered by the article, is: Will virtual ergonomic tools be used by experts in the future or will these tools become a standard for constructing engineers and production planners?