WEAR Conference

The MADE4U project was selected to be presented in the Group WEAR Annual Conference (World Engineering Anthropometry Resource) dedicated to Anthropometry applied to innovation. The conference was held the 22-23 September 2010 in Valencia, Spain.

The goal of this conference that was aimed at the manufacturing industries, was to show availability of anthropometric data worldwide and potential uses of such data in designing innovative products and services.

Over 20 well known worldwide experts in the application of anthropometrics and ergonomics in the development of new innovative products such as cars, chairs, helmets, clothing and footwear for different population groups were present in the Conference with an audience of 85 participants from different manufacturing companies.

MADE4U project findings were presented by Begoña Mateo, researcher in the Instituto de Biomecánica de Valencia and MADE4U. Miss Mateo is WP2 leader and presented her project findings in anthropometrics and ergonomics applied in the manufacturing of personalized spectacles.

Adaptation of products and services to the dimensions and human forms is becoming a major trend in the purchasing decisions of end users. As Director of the Clothing field at IBV, Juan Carlos González, pointed out "ergonomics and comfort are the most requested features by customers. Nowadays, the global markets require knowledge of the diversity and availability of anthropometric resources, not only in our environment but also around the world." Adapted products based on anthropometric data increase end-user comfort and satisfaction and reduce the number of returns substantially. Therefore, application of anthropometry, data obtained and resulting technologies are great tools for future innovation. In addition, Gonzalez noted, "this discipline creates opportunities for new business models, such as 'customized' and 'best fit', based on anthropometric data."