Review on impact of worker’s psychosocial environment under operator 4.0 framework

Abstract: In manufacturing, emerging digital technologies related to industry 4.0 are playing an assisting role for operators, and just as in previous industrial revolutions the paradigm for operators in the industry is changing. This study has two key goals. The first is to look into the impact of the worker's psychosocial impacts under the operator 4.0 typologies during assembly, training, and maintenance operations, and the second is to look into the potential changes in the operator framework as the industry progresses from 4.0 to 5.0. This study proposed a theoretical framework for assessing psychosocial impacts in operator 4.0 typologies. The proposed framework can be utilized by the company managers, researchers, production engineers, and human resource personnel for the psychosocial risk assessment of the operators in assembly, training, and maintenance operations as self-report questionnaires. This study employed a systematic literature review strategy to answer the study objectives. The findings reveal that the nature of work, the social and organizational environment of work, and individual impacts are all key categories, that might impact operators’ psychosocial environments in assembly, training, and maintenance operations under the operator 4.0 typologies.This study focuses on determining the psychosocial consequences of the operator 4.0 typologies and helps the operators to become more aware, and equipment designers should consider operator psychosocial work conditions when designing new augmented equipment for assisting operators in the work environment. Most advanced technologies are unfamiliar to operators, and they have exhibited a reluctance to accept new technology because it significantly changes their working environment. Which necessitates the training and awareness of operators regarding advanced technologies. Operator 4.0 typologies were introduced with a vision to create a socially sustainable environment for operators. However, the identified psychosocial impacts make it favorable and unfavorable to the operators.