Introducing Customized ICT for Operators in Manufacturing

Higher complexity and increased global competition emphasises the need of flexibility for organisations in manufacturing. To achieve this puts challenges on todays manufacturing systems and the human operators doing the tasks. The use of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) as cognitive automation and to increase information sharing among the operators has been discussed as important tools to meet those challenges. A highly customized mobile application was developed at a large Swedish manufacturing company. This application has been introduced on smartphone devices to the operators in a manufacturing process. This paper presents empirical findings from the first year of this test. The study provides an example where information and communication technology have enabled manufacturing operators to perform new work tasks through increased trust and knowledge.