Researching the possibilities for fixture design aided by computers has been in the sphere of interest of a number of authors worldwide for a longer period. Research results have led to the precise and systematised knowledge on the possibilities offered by computer application in fixture design process. The paper emphasises the importance of fixture design automation. It presents a general structure of the automated design system with a special highlight on the fixture design systems and their main characteristics. It also shows a structure and a part of output results of the automated modular fixture design system. Finally, the reached conclusions are presented with the expected directions of future researches. In industrial ergonomics a manipulator is a lift assist device used to help workers lift, maneuver and place articles in process that are too heavy, too hot, large or otherwise too difficult for a single worker to manually handle.