How to Measure Stress in Smart and Intelligent Manufacturing Systems: A Systematic Review

Abstract

The Fourth Industrial Revolution has introduced innovative technologies to manufacturing, resulting in digital production systems with consequences on workers’ roles and well-being. From the literature emerges the necessity to delve into the work-related stress phenomenon since it affects workers’ health status and performance and companies’ productivity. This review summarises the stress indicators and other influential factors in order to contribute to a stress assessment of human workers in smart and intelligent manufacturing systems. The PRISMA methodology is adopted to select studies consistent with the aim of the study. The analysis reviews objective measurements, such as physical, physiological, and subjective measurements, usually driven by a psychological perspective. In addition, experimental protocols and environmental and demographic variables that influence stress are illustrated. However, the investigation of stress indicators combined with other factors leads to more reliable and effective results. Finally, it is discovered that standards regarding stress indicators and research variables investigated by experimental studies are lacking. In addition, it is revealed that environmental and demographic variables, which may reveal significant suggestions for stress investigation, are rather neglected. This review provides a theorical summary of stress indicators for advanced manufacturing systems and highlights gaps to inspire future studies. Moreover, it provides practical guidelines to analyse other factors that may influence stress evaluation.