Socio-organisational factors driving the integration of exoskeletons in the workplace.

The purpose of this study is to investigate socio-organisational factors driving the adoption of exoskeletons. The Industry 4.0 literature has lacked a focus on human factors. Therefore, the concept of Industry 5.0 has emerged that reflects a more human-centred approach with worker wellbeing pivotal to the production process. This study involves experiments investigating the use of upper-limb exoskeletons in shipbuilding. The scientific contribution is a new decision aid that includes a rigorous methodology and protocol that assesses exoskeletons in shipbuilding. When applied, this assessment protocol will inform decision-makers about how exoskeletons may assist their production processes. The results indicate the exoskeletons are generally well received by workers, however, organisational programs to support their adoption may improve reception. The study offers valuable insights to production managers considering the impact and challenges of assistive technologies for production workers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]