At Anthrotech, we have worked with some incredible businesses over the years including both Fortune 500 companies and startups. We’re also extremely proud of the work we do for the United States Armed Forces. We have been privileged to help with a number of military projects, and today we will share some details from a successful anthropometric matching survey we completed for the United States Navy from 2014-2015. This effort enabled the Navy to save taxpayer money, and it led to another project the following year.
Project Origin
Navy leaders were in search of measurements to assist in the development of accurate sizing for new uniforms, protective clothing, and equipment based on the anthropometry of the current Navy personnel. Navy leaders wanted to ensure these clothing items would fit each individual who would wear them, which included men and women of many different sizes and shapes. The goal was to obtain a measurement database that was precise within a half inch and offered 95 percent confidence in the results. Navy leaders selected Anthrotech to accomplish this task.
How Anthrotech Helped
The Anthrotech team, in collaboration with the Navy, traveled to seven different locations to collect data. Measuring each sailor took approximately 45 minutes. The 25 dimensions selected for this study were directly related to uniforms and equipment. The dimensions were:
- Radiale-Stylion Length
- Shoulder Length
- Sitting Height
- Sleeve Length: Spine-Wrist
- Stature
- Thigh Circumference
- Vertical Trunk Circumference
- Waist Back Length
- Waist Circumference
- Waist Front Length, Sitting
- Waist Height
- Weight
- Acromion-Radiale Length
- Biceps Circumference, Flexed
- Bideltoid Breadth
- Buttock Circumference
- Buttock-Knee Length
- Calf Circumference, Max
- Chest Circumference
- Chest Height
- Crotch Height
- Head Circumference
- Hip Breadth, Sitting
- Knee Height, Midpatella
- Neck Circumference
One unique aspect of this project was that Anthrotech could leverage past work for the U.S. Army to benefit the Navy. We had recently completed a survey for the Army that entailed measuring 95 dimensions on 12,000 soldiers (ANSUR 2). We went through ANSUR 2 data and selected individuals whose measurements for the 25 Navy dimensions were very similar to the measured values for the Navy. That extra step of data analysis provided even more detail than the client originally imagined. We were able to create a Navy virtual database containing all 95 dimensions, rather than just the 25 that were directly measured.
Results
After the completion of the project, Navy leaders provided very positive feedback. They were pleased to receive a database that contained 95 dimensions even though they only paid for 25. Those additional dimensions can be leveraged by the Navy in the design of Navy ships, helicopters and jets, and anything else needed to make Navy personnel safer and more effective. This was of great value, as it saved taxpayer dollars and helped produce even better-fitting uniforms and equipment for the Navy. With such a successful project, Anthrotech was hired to redo the Navy’s clothing sizing systems the following year.
