‘My whole body is at work’: the silence of gendered body techniques in cork industry in an era of automation

Cunha, Liliana; Silva, Daniel Castro; Macedo, M. Salomé; Lacomblez, Marianne

doi:10.1080/00140139.2022.2066189

Cited by 7 publications

(6 citation statements)

References 29 publications

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“…A study developed by our team in the cork industry (Cunha et al, 2022 ) showed that gender segregation persisted after the introduction of automation, knowing that this segregation in the division of labor is not independent from the fact that the automatic machines are supported by a legacy of manual activity know-how, which is built by different worker generations. In short, technology interacts with the gender dimension, insofar as it is never gender neutral.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Exploring the status of the human operator in Industry 4.0: A systematic review

2022

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Industry 4.0 (I4.0) promises to transform jobs and working conditions through the implementation of unprecedented human-machine interaction modes. As the operator working in these new settings, known as the Operator 4.0, is a relatively recent concept, and although technological developments are expected to support workers and require higher labor skills, the risks and health impacts resulting from these changes remain underexplored. This systematic review aims to (i) systematize literature findings on how workers are perceived and participate in I4.0 work systems; (ii) identify the main technological changes driven by I4.0; and (iii) instigate discussion regarding the impacts these changes may have for workers and the sustainability of work systems. Following a systematic review approach using the PRISMA protocol, the articles were organized into two main analysis axes: the technical changes brought about by I4.0, and the representation of the human worker within these new work settings. The findings reveal that a techno-centered approach still seems to be dominant in guiding the implementation of I4.0 models; secondly, as a consequence, the social dimensions of work tend to remain as residual issues, overshadowed by the promises related with technology (e.g., productivity, efficiency); finally, the representation of the Operator 4.0 remains blurry, as he/she is perceived as gender neutral, skillful, and perfectly fit for work, assuring the functioning (and compensating for the limits) of these systems. While I4.0 promises safer and more productive workplaces, issues related to employment conditions, emerging risks and health impacts become more prominent when analyzed from an activity-centered perspective. In terms of future research, a more heuristic analysis could be achieved through a participatory and work-centered approach and following a gender perspective. This way, visibility could be conferred to another side of I4.0, thus guaranteeing conditions for the sustainable development of these work situations.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Exploring the status of the human operator in Industry 4.0: A systematic review

2022

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“…This is the case of a number of studies exploring the direct effects and psychosocial risks of digital technology on workers (Marinescu et al, 2023;Papetti et al, 2020;Papetti et al, 2021;Thyl en et al, 2023). Some occupation-specific studies looked at the physical effects of digital technologies on body posture of body techniques and occurrence of musculoskeletal disorders (Cunha et al, 2022;Wixted et al, 2018). Within such a broad area of ergonomics, scholars have proposed specific approaches such as cognitive ergonomics and neuroergonomics.…”

Section: Risks and Digital Innovationmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Such a negative view can lead to potential perception of harm with technologies and the avoidance of their use. Cunha et al (2022) and Egana-delSol et al (2022). reported how female workers feel more at risk due to gender inequalities in access to education and skills in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) fields.…”

Section: Antecedents Of Risksmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…AGV, Robots, Cobots, computerized numerical control (CNC) and digital manufacturing. The majority of the empirical studies in this review focus on collaborative robots or cobots, that are increasingly common in the manufacturing sectors and share the workspace very closely with the worker (e.g., Cunha et al, 2022;Egana-delSol et al, 2022;Wixted et al, 2018).…”

Section: Industry 40 Technologies and Risksmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…As noted in our analysis, the antecedents can be directly or indirectly related to the presence of the processes behind risks. For example, age, gender and education of the workers are individual level factors that influence the experience or perception of risks (e.g., Brougham and Haar, 2018;Cunha et al, 2022). Similarly, organizational level factors represent the immediate context in which individuals connect with digital innovation which can have heterogeneous effects (e.g., the lack of an organizational culture devoted to technological innovation can lead workers' resistance to technological adoption) Lowe et al (2022), Palumbo et al (2022).…”

Section: Theoretical Implicationsmentioning

confidence: 99%

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A human-centered perspective on individual risks for digital innovation management: an integrative conceptual review

Du Plooy,

Tommasi,

Furlan

et al. 2024

EJIM

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PurposeFollowing the imperative for human-centric digital innovation brought by the paradigm of Industry 5.0, the article aims to integrate the dispersed and multi-disciplinary literature on individual risks for workers to define, explain and predict individual risks related to Industry 4.0 technologies.Design/methodology/approachThe paper follows the question, “What is the current knowledge and evidence base concerning risks related to Industry 4.0 technologies, and how can this inform digital innovation management in the manufacturing sector through the lens of the Industry 5.0 paradigm?” and uses the method of systematic literature review to identify and discuss potential risks for individuals associated with digital innovation. N = 51 contributions met the inclusion criteria.FindingsThe literature review indicates dominant trends and significant gaps in understanding risks from a human-centric perspective. The paper identifies individual risks, their interplay with different technologies and their antecedents at the social, organizational and individual levels. Despite this, the paper shows how the literature concentrates in studying risks on only a limited number of categories and/or concepts. Moreover, there is a lack of consensus in the theoretical and conceptual frameworks. The paper concludes by illustrating an initial understanding of digital innovation via a human-centered perspective on psychological risks.Practical implicationsFindings yield practical implications. In investing in the adoption, generation or recombination of new digital technologies in organizations, the paper recommends managers ensure to prevent risks at the individual level. Accordingly, the study’s findings can be used as a common starting point for extending the repertoire of managerial practices and interventions and realizing human-centric innovation.Originality/valueFollowing the paradigm of Industry 5.0, the paper offers a holistic view of risks that incorporates the central role of the worker as crucial to the success of digital innovation. This human-centric perspective serves to inform the managerial field about important factors in risk management that can result in more effective targeted interventions in risk mitigation approaches. Lastly, it can serve to reinterpret digital innovation management and propose future avenues of research on risk.

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