Virtual manufacturing and response surface methodology (VMRSM) is a method in ergonomics to use computerized tools and statistical analysis for workstation design.
Computerized tools help assist and enable an individual to simulate an evaluate a large number of design configurations with respect to multiple performance measures.
Many of the tools available have the capability to model a workstation, but fail to model the interaction a user may have with a given workspace.
By combining the virtual modeling tools with an analysis by the ergonomist, human performance and ergonomic needs can be assessed to design these workstations.
The advantage of this method is that many computer tools are defined by metrics (like height, length, depth) and this frees up the analyst to focus on workflow, rather than specific parameters.