Challenges for the future of industrial labor in manufacturing and logistics using the example of order picking systems

Abstract This paper presents prospects for a human-centered design of future industrial labor in a framework depicting the dilemma between technological feasibility and labor-politically desirability, under the constraint of an economically reasonable design of work and technology. Using the example of order picking systems, this paper focuses on the challenges of progressive digitization in industrial processes. The analytical approach is the socio-technical system, which assumes that new technologies will also result in personnel and organizational changes. These considerations form a framework, which amalgates the perspectives of human actors, technology and organization and ultimately leads to a complementary design of industrial labor.