Design for Maintainability Using Virtual Manikins: a Case Study on the Air-Conditioning System of a Regional Train

The paper deals with the development and the application to railway industry of an innovative approach regarding design for maintainability of vehicle components in virtual environment. This activity is part of a research program that University of Naples Federico II is carrying on with Firema Trasporti S.p.A., addressed to the realization of a train that respects, since the firsts concept and development phases, maintainability and ergonomics requirements of all systems and equipments. The case study deals with the definition of design specifications of an air-conditioning system for a new train, designed at Firema. The aims pursued through the concept modeling of this system were: improvement of maintainability tasks of components and subassemblies of the system; ergonomics improvement of postures assumed by workers employed on maintenance tasks; reduction of maintenance time.