Challenge

The digitisation of the industry and the increasing need for customized production offers great opportunities for low-volume, high complexity manufacturers of smart factories. Smart factories combine a high degree of flexibility and are data-driven, integrate IoT technology and smart sensor systems for in-line quality and process control, and combine hybrid technologies for customised production. Despite the high degree of automation in smart factories and cyber-security for agile production, human factors still negatively impact safety, yield, and product quality. In some industries, human errors might account for 80% of the total number of incidents. For manufacturing companies, it’s important to take measures to minimise risks related to human behaviour.

Impact

Affective manufacturing leads to improved efficiency and productivity, by incorporating human stress factors in the optimisation of the production processes. For simple tasks, low arousal (inattention of the operator) leads to poor performance, high arousal leads to high performance. Difficult tasks require moderate arousal for optimum performance. A too low arousal (drowsiness) as well as a too high arousal (stress) lead to poor performance and should be avoided.
Affective manufacturing leads to improved product quality. One of the requests is error-free production through a self-learning production method in which the system responds autonomously to any errors.
Affective manufacturing leads to improved safety, by preventing under-alertness or drowsiness.
Affective manufacturing leads to improved self-control and operator satisfaction/happiness.