The next generation of machine operators expect a human-machine interface with intuitive operation, much like the mobile devices they use every day. The rise of new smart devices in the work environment is not limited to the areas of management and distribution. Production managers and service employees in the industry also benefit from having constant access to machine states, data sheets or service plans via the web, wherever they are. The result: Reduced machine downtime and increased productivity.
In his white paper “Designing and developing control systems that truly meet the needs of users”, Simon Sittig, a researcher at RWTH Aachen University, explains how the ever growing flow of information in Industry 4.0 environments can be controlled and used to increase efficiency. Role concepts can be used to ensure that only relevant data is allocated to a particular user group. By adjusting the available information to a given work context, it can be provided in an even more targeted way. Sittig also discusses the use of new technologies such as smart watches.