Title: Human work in strategic technology transitions in manufacturing

Authors: Arto Reiman; Esa-Pekka Takala; Elina Parviainen; Jari Kaivo-oja

Addresses: Industrial Engineering and Management, University of Oulu, FI-90014, Finland ' Helsinki, Finland ' Human Process Consulting, FI-21110 Naantali, Finland ' Finland Futures Research Centre (FFRC), University of Turku, FI-20014, Finland

Abstract: The swift evolution of manufacturing technology is primarily driven by business and technology-oriented needs, while the sociotechnical aspects are sidelined. This article addresses the management challenges of human factors and ergonomics (HF/E) in technology transitions commonly associated to Industry 4.0 and Industry 5.0 phenomenon. First, experts from 15 Finnish manufacturing companies were interviewed on the types of HF/E data collected and indicators employed in this context. Second, a scoping review was conducted to identify HF/E indicators available from the management perspective. The interviews and the reviewed literature showed that HF/E data and indicators are dominated by a risk management perspective arising from the origins of occupational health and safety. In this regard, the other side of HF/E - the system performance - is often neglected. Summing up, foundational perspectives for HF/E indicators are presented as starting points for future discussion in companies aiming to navigate fluently in strategic technology transitions.

Keywords: business; ergonomics; human factors; human work; indicator; Industry 4.0; Industry 5.0; macroergonomics; management; manufacturing; strategy; system performance; technology transition.

DOI: 10.1504/IJHFE.2024.143256

International Journal of Human Factors and Ergonomics, 2024 Vol.11 No.3, pp.266 - 288

Received: 01 Feb 2024
Accepted: 05 Aug 2024
Published online: 11 Dec 2024 *

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