Toward 1+1 = 3 with Lean Robotics: The Introduction of a Human-Centered Robotization Method

Industrial robotics and Lean Manufacturing are becoming increasingly intertwined with one another. Lean Robotics aims to synergize process, machine, and human capital challenges by pursuing a human-centered design approach. In this contribution, we argued that, despite its promising virtues, Lean Robotics’ human-centered design approach lacks a methodological bases and runs the risk of becoming overshadowed by technical issues. To preserve Lean Robotics’ human-centered design approach, the goal of this contribution was to introduce a suitable human-centered robotization method. Building further upon work from the field of Human-Robot Interaction, a robotization method on human-robot interdependence optimization was brought forward and reviewed extensively. To unite this method with the guiding principles of Lean Robotics, a human-centered extension was developed. This human-centered extension, referred to as the Interdependence Scoring Method, is ready to test and comes with a step-by-step explanation and various illustrations. Lean educators, scholars, and professionals have been encouraged to test the Interdependence Scoring Method in a wide variety of class, lab, and field settings. Moreover, these Lean experts are urged to bundle their strengths and, collectively, challenge the future of manufacturing with Lean Robotics.