Using a Single Group Experimental Study to Underpin the Importance of Human-in-the-Loop in a Smart Manufacturing Environment

The fourth industrial revolution is seen as potential boon to the manufacturing industry of the future. It is set to revolutionize the way manufacturing has been done thus far. The manufacturing industry is set to move away from the Make-to-Stock approach to a Make-to-Order strategy. In the Make-to-Order business production strategy, the consumers are given the option to purchase a product tailored to their customized specifications. This strategy is hinged on the advancements made into the research in Internet of Things, Cyber Physical Systems and high-speed data transfer using technologies such as 5G. However, there are instances where the brisk pace of technological developments has not caught up with the industry of today. This is where the Human-in-the-Loop concept comes to the fore. Human-in-the-Loop looks at ways in which the humans can be kept in the production loop so as to make a positive impact on the production time. Several studies highlight the importance of Human-in-the-Loop and have devised means of including it in the state-of-the-art manufacturing scene. This paper looks at a novel approach to introduce Human-in-the-Loop to a fully automated water bottling plant using a single group experimental study. The paper initially looks at literature confirming the need for such a study and then shares the methodology used in setting up the experimental study and finally showcases the results of the study.