Fraunhofer Institute for Process Engineering and Packaging IVV
Challenges in designing user-centered HMIs
Task-oriented human-machine interfaces (HMI) are an essential part of efficient process management. They help users manage complex production processes reliably and efficiently, and make it easier to understand how processes work together.
Design carried out in collaboration with users, an approach also known as user-centered design or UCD, is anchored in standards and guidelines — but in practice it is rarely used for today’s production machines or is not factored in until the end of the development process. There are several reasons for this, such as a lack of communication, excessive workloads and development departments not being aware of the approach.
The resulting operating concepts that are created in machines and systems often fail to align with users’ needs and are fraught with errors as they have not undergone rounds of testing early on. At the same time, the costs involved in amending suboptimal HMIs rise constantly throughout the development process as a result of cost-intensive iteration loops. This reduces both the efficiency of the development process and the quality of the HMIs.
Assistance system for an efficient development process
With the aim of providing a solution to this problem, the KoHMIdes research project is working on a cooperative method of developing task-oriented HMIs for machines used in industrial production environments.
The focus of the research project is twofold: gradually breaking down communication barriers between engineering companies’ development departments and application personnel at production companies, and fostering interdisciplinary discussion between those involved in development and application throughout the entire process.
The method is being brought to fruition through a software demonstrator that provides space and guidance for companies to engage in discussion.
Functionalities:
- Software-based task analysis: guided hierarchical analysis of users’ work tasks
- Co-design tool: synchronous evaluation and design of HMI models
- Database server: for saving data throughout the project stages
- Data security and data ownership: ideal balance between cross-company synergies and internal company expertise
Reduced costs, excellent usability and cross-project learning
The assistance system helps machine manufacturers execute their own HMI development processes. The HMI concepts are aligned with the needs of users from the outset, and ongoing feedback makes it possible to identify design issues early on and resolve them inexpensively. It is also possible to draw on experience from previous projects.
The enhanced HMI usability that KoHMIdes is bringing reduces the risk of operating errors, accelerates troubleshooting and allows for a proactive approach to preventing faults. In turn, this reduces downtimes and the associated costs.
At the same time, task-oriented HMIs make process monitoring easier, allow processes to be optimized in line with needs and significantly reduce the amount of learning that new operating staff have to undertake.
Software companies can also benefit from the results of the research project by integrating the methodology into their service projects.
| Project term: | 02, 2023 to 08, 2025 |
| Funding code: | IGF 22834 BR / 1 |