Integrating energy expenditure into MTM-UAS: the Motion Energy Measurement (MEM) system for ergonomic assessment in assembly lines
提出运动能量测量（MEM）系统，将代谢能量消耗模型融入MTM-UAS方法，量化装配线操作的生理负荷。案例研究发现操作员间任务时长差异小但能量消耗差异大，揭示时间平衡策略的工效盲区。
Production engineers increasingly integrate ergonomics intoassembly line design, given the long-term adverse effects on operator health. This paper proposes the Motion Energy Measurement (MEM) system, an extension of the MTM-UAS method for assessing manual tasks. While MTM-UAS standardises task timing through basic motion units, it does not account for physiological workload.MEM addresses this gap by integrating metabolic energy expenditure models into each MTM-UAS motion element, enabling quantifiable assessment of physiological workload. A case study conducted at Bosch Thermotechnology in Portugal, involving a hot water boiler assembly line, revealed a disparity between task duration uniformity (CV ≈ 0.5%) and energy variability (CV ≈ 11.7%) across operators. These results expose critical ergonomic blind spots in time-based balancing strategies and underline the potential of MEM for real-time identification of high-strain tasks. This work advances ergonomic diagnostics by introducing a scalable, physiology-informed layer to traditional time-motion analysis.