Human-machine interface in smart factory: A systematic literature review

A smart factory is a form of manufacturing in the era of Industry 4.0 that has adopted new integrated manufacturing technologies. The importance of human-machine interfaces (HMIs) has been increasing due to the complexity of the current manufacturing context. Therefore, it is necessary to identify and understand HMIs in smart factories from a holistic perspective, which enables us to understand the overall picture. In this study, we conducted a systematic literature review (SLR) of HMIs to identify smart factory functions, tasks, information types, interaction modalities, and their impact on human operators from the perspectives of human factors and human-computer interaction. Seventy-seven articles were selected for SLR and analysed based on three research questions. We found four smart factory functions (operation and supervision, management, maintenance service, and cybersecurity) consisting of 18 tasks, including subtasks and functions. The effects of these functions, tasks, and HMIs on human operators are also discussed. Five interaction modalities (gaze, voice, gesture, tactile, and haptic) were used to perform these functions and tasks. This paper also discusses the practical use context of HMIs in smart factories and offers HMI recommendations for users, designers, and researchers. These findings provide insights into the design of HMIs in smart factories.

Automated summary

A smart factory in the era of Industry 4.0 adopts new integrated manufacturing technologies and emphasizes the importance of human-machine interfaces (HMIs) for human operators. A systematic literature review (SLR) identified four smart factory functions, 18 tasks, and five interaction modalities, discussing their impact on human operators and offering HMI recommendations for users, designers, and researchers. This study provides insights into the design of HMIs in smart factories.