Human-centered design of work systems in the transition to industry 4.0

The introduction of Industry 4.0-enabling digital technologies in industrial work systems are creating various sociotechnical challenges affecting overall system performance and human well-being. In this paper, we propose a framework for (re)designing industrial work systems in the transition towards Industry 4.0. The framework combines human factors and ergonomics, work system modeling, and strategy design. It accommodates implementation challenges we have identified through ten retrospective case studies. In addition, we present the systematic approach applied to developing and testing the framework. Lastly, the framework was tested in a collaborative workshop in an industrial company, and the results indicated its applicability.

Automated summary

This paper proposes a framework that combines human factors and ergonomics, work system modeling, and strategy design for (re)designing industrial work systems in the transition towards Industry 4.0. The framework has been tested through ten retrospective case studies and a collaborative workshop in an industrial company, showing its applicability and effectiveness.