A Digital Colleague as intuitive operator support system in a HMLV Production Environment

High-Mix Low-Volume (HMLV) manufacturing, driven by the demand for customized and flexible products, has increased the complexity and variability of tasks for operators. To maintain efficiency, support systems must provide operators with precise, relevant information and actions without overwhelming them. We introduce a ‘Digital Colleague,’ a modular and intuitive human-centric architecture designed to streamline design and production information for operators upon request. Built on large language models (LLMs), a skill-based robot framework and a hierarchical knowledge base, this research highlights the potential of AI to enhance operator support, paving the way for advancements in smart manufacturing technologies.