A Simulation-Based Optimization Approach Towards Human-Centric Scheduling in Presence of Heterogeneous Workforce

Industry 5.0 places a strong emphasis on human-centric scheduling, recognizing that by prioritizing the well-being and needs of workers, it not only enhances productivity but also aligns with sustainable principles. To achieve such a schedule, the present work proposes to resort to the Simulation-based Optimization. This approach allows for accurate modeling of the stochastic behavior observed in manual task processing times. Specifically, an asymmetric right-skewed function is used to reproduce prolonged delays attributed to the fatigue and attention span of older workers. This skewness was identified in empirical data, where delays may stem from psychological and biological factors. Experiments were conducted in a learning factory, where both older and younger manual workers collaborated to fulfill customer orders. The results reveal the gap found when such stochastic human behavior is ignored. Thus, in manual operations, achieving a more efficient and human-centric scheduling approach necessitates the inclusion of worker-specific variability pattern.