Exploring the Role of User Experience in Enhancing IoT Applications for Smart Manufacturing: A Review

The paper highlights the lack of a human-machine experience within Smart Manufacturing when using Internet of Things technologies, along with challenges, and provides recommendations for enhancement. The use of Internet of Things technologies in Smart Manufacturing has grown steadily since the launch of Industry 4.0 in 2011. Since then, the data collected from these technologies have assisted manufacturers in becoming digitally savvy by helping them gain a deeper understanding of their production processes, how they can become more efficient, and by revealing innovative ways to grow their business whilst remaining competitive. However, an area that needs further consideration is the user experience of these technologies and the human they are designed for. This paper critically examines current frameworks and methodologies that have been created to enhance the human-machine experience of Smart Manufacturing systems, some of which target the needs of industry, individual, or Internet of Things technologies. From this review, we identify that there is not one framework or methodology that can cater to the needs of all three. Additionally, open challenges that have been encountered are discussed, and suggestions for possible future directions are explored, these include focusing on human-centred design and the well-being of workers by adapting Internet of Things interfaces to the system’s user needs within a Smart Manufacturing realm.