Status displays in automated assembly

The rapid automation of automotive body assembly operations has resulted in a proliferation of the process steps to be monitored and displayed, thereby making the task of the worker more complex. The progression of assembly and associated machine cycling is controlled by programmable logic controllers whose states are displayed on control panels. The significance of the interface between a worker and several panels used in automated assembly is pointed out. Practical problems with the traditional methods of panel design are discussed. The design and layout of select aspects of such control panels are reviewed with examples in reference to six criteria for panel layout.