Situation-based process guiding and supervision assistance system for semi-automated manufacturing processes

Human-centered engineering is a main concern regarding reliability issues in automation of complex processes. However, even recent automation devices are not capable to automate processes with an advanced cross linkage of process technique and manufacturing skills as occurring in traditional handcrafting processes. Analyzing handcrafting applications for automation approaches regarding human factors on the one hand and economical goals on the other hand sometimes lead to a necessity of the human worker being integrated in the process. Thus, a role mapping becomes necessary, transferring the human worker from an ideal multivariable sensory and actuatory process “element” into a process guiding and supervision role. Based on the Situation-Operator-Modeling approach, the process procedure is modeled by a set of situations. The established action space represented by a network of discrete situations is used for the implementation of a situation-based process guidance and supervision assistance system improving the situation awareness of the human worker and offering situation-based, contextual information as support for the decision making and selection process of necessary and additional available process actions. The analysis of a handcrafted molding process using No-Bake-Technique is given as an illustrative example.