iPod touch – an ICT tool for operators in factories of the future?

Mass customisation puts great strain on manufacturing companies and results in large amount of information surrounding the personnel. Increased information flow will require new solutions when it comes to presentation and communication to and from the personnel throughout the production chain. This paper suggests an ICT tool based on iPod touch to improve the quality of information and to increase productivity in production. This will create empowered flexible operators, which are supported to work proactive. A case study will examine how the present amount of information affects the operators in final assembly and investigating which benefits a mobile ICT solution based on the iPod touch can provide.