CPPS combine high levels of automation with flexible production possibilities in terms of changeable system configurations. CPPS are capable of solving most routine and even well-defined non-routine situations automatically. However, when levels of complexity rise, and in particular in ill-defined non-routine situations, the human operator must step in and find solutions to these situations. Competent action in such a flexible and complex work environment requires knowledge and skills on how to deal with such complex problem solving situations. Due to reduced opportunities to work manually with the system, chances to develop respective competencies are lacking. This results in the requirement of a work environment that provides sufficient access to the information and tools relevant for accomplishing the complex task requirements. Developing such work environments is becoming increasingly important as operators need to bridge gaps between limited system capabilities and the dynamic demands of real-world operations. CPPS are supposed to open new ways of designing work environments that support the development and maintenance of competencies. Previous research in that field like the Operator 4.0 typology (Romero et al., 2016) provides a starting point for that. Yet, harnessing the potential of, e.g., the Operator 4.0 typology requires an advanced understanding of constraints of human’s physical, sensorial, and cognitive capabilities with complex socio-technical work environments.

Three of our doctoral researchers (Sebastian Lorenz, Franziska Kessler, and Felix Miesen) work within this cluster and cover a wide range of research on competencies and interactions with CPPS. Summarized, their research focusses on aspects of how to provide information, guidance, assistance, and feedback within CPPS in order to promote human agency and competent actions, as well as to avoid competency decay. In their work, they combine insights and approaches from process engineering, agricultural technology engineering, as well as cognitive and instructional psychology in order to investigate methods that provide

• information (or access to information resources) and tools that support to identify the relevant state of the system and select appropriate actions
• support for understanding causal relations / structures within the CPPS
• support in building a mental model of the CPPS

For more information and exciting insights on the research in this cluster, please visit the related project pages:

• How do conducive forms of interaction improve the handling of requirements in cyber-physical systems? (Sebastian Lorenz)
• Support problem solving in CPPS: On the role of abstract mental representations of key causel models (Franziska Kessler)
• Design & Evaluation of Interactive Assistance on Competency Development in Modular Process Plants as an Example of CPPS (Felix Miesen)