Information field in a manufacturing System: Concepts, measurements and applications

As the core of the Industry 4.0 era, information can improve the efficiency of production as well as bring cognitive load to operators. In this study, we aim to develop a unified information field analysis model for manufacturing systems and to estimate the cognitive load of operators through the action features of the information field. The qualitative and quantitative analytical framework model of the information field in manufacturing systems is established using information entropy and fuzzy mathematics. Furthermore, the cognitive load mechanism in manufacturing systems is clarified. The information principles that must be exercised to improve and optimise manufacturing systems under the information field framework are proposed for implementing lean production and digital transformation. Results of a case study show that the proposed information field analysis model for manufacturing systems reveal the change law of information field of manufacturing system in time and space, which has considerable guiding values for enhancing the management efficiency of shop floors and the sustainable development of enterprises.