Human mismatches and preferences for automation

The research reported in this paper is concerned with gaining a better understanding of human factors issues in machining and the automation of manufacturing tasks. Mismatches between operators' performance and the requirements of machining tasks were experimentally studied in respect of relationships with various human characteristics. It is considered that increased knowledge of the rate of mismatches and an understanding of the causes is essential for the successful design of new working environments, machines and tasks. Much of this change to the working environment is likely to involve some degree of automation of the operators' tasks and so a second and important aspect of the study was designed to establish the extent to which preferred levels of automation were related to the same human characteristics.