Open AccessOperator as a Service: a New Concept for Remote Supervision of Automated Manufacturing Lines
Author(s) -
Marco Ojer,
Sergio Valdes,
Ander Garcia,
Xabier Oregui,
Iker Gastesi,
Xiao Lin,
Inigo Mendizabal-Arrieta,
Jairo R. Sanchez,
Elena Lazkano
Publication year - 2025
Publication title -
ieee access
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Magazines
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.587
H-Index - 127
eISSN - 2169-3536
DOI - 10.1109/access.2025.3574415
Subject(s) - aerospace , bioengineering , communication, networking and broadcast technologies , components, circuits, devices and systems , computing and processing , engineered materials, dielectrics and plasmas , engineering profession , fields, waves and electromagnetics , general topics for engineers , geoscience , nuclear engineering , photonics and electrooptics , power, energy and industry applications , robotics and control systems , signal processing and analysis , transportation
This paper introduces the Operator as a Service (OaaS) concept, a novel paradigm for human labour in the era of Industry 4.0. OaaS empowers skilled operators to remotely oversee and control multiple flexible smart manufacturing lines through advanced technologies such as digital twins and remote collaboration. By transitioning from on-site, full-time operators to specialized remote operators available on demand, OaaS optimizes human resource utilization and facilitates the transition towards more flexible and responsive manufacturing systems. This paper presents the OaaS architecture, discusses its potential benefits for enhancing operational efficiency and adaptability in semi-controlled manufacturing environments, and validates its feasibility through a real-world testbed involving a fully automated assembly line. The results demonstrate the potential of OaaS to address the challenges of maintaining human oversight and ensuring operational flexibility in increasingly complex and interconnected manufacturing systems.