DIGITAL MANAGEMENT WITH ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGY FOR SHARED ENVIRONMENTS BETWEEN HUMANS AND MACHINES: EXOSKELETONS

Abstract

Historically, industrial workstations were designed based on male anthropometry and biomechanical capacity. However, the contemporary demographic transition shows that women make up most of the population and have a growing presence on the factory floor. This article analyzes the ergonomic mismatch generated by this design bias, which results in physical and cognitive overload for female workers. To mitigate harmful effects, the implementation of exoskeletons as assistive technology, monitored by digital management, is explored. Through a literature review, it discusses how occupational exoskeletons act as functional assistive technologies to mitigate these disparities, since the adoption of these devices not only redistributes joint loads, adapting the environment to anatomical diversity, but also aligns with the principles of neuroergonomics and lean manufacturing, promoting inclusion, safety, and operational efficiency while respecting human biomechanics and process variations. It is concluded that the digital management of exoskeletons not only prevents injuries, but also promotes a sustainable and adaptable workflow, placing the human at the center of shared systems between intelligent and complex machines.