A comparison of motivational work characteristics and cognitive workload in manual vs. cobot-assisted manufacturing tasks

Abstract The integration of collaborative robots (cobots) is transforming manufacturing, yet empirical evidence on their impact on employees’ work experiences and well-being remains limited and often yields contradictory findings. This exploratory study used a within-subject quasi-experimental design to compare manual and cobot-assisted modalities of a repetitive battery disassembly task and to examine how cobots alter motivational work characteristics, cognitive workload, and psychological stress. Thirty-eight participants performed the task under both modalities, while self-report questionnaires and physiological signals were collected. Results showed that manual tasks provided higher autonomy and job complexity, whereas cobot-assisted tasks offered greater task variety, information processing, problem-solving, and skill variety. Physiological data revealed reduced stress and muscle activation during cobot-assisted work, partially supported by self-reports, which indicated lower physical but higher mental demands. This study offers contextually grounded insights into how introducing a cobot into a specific manufacturing task can simultaneously reduce physical strain while increasing cognitive demands and psychological stress. These findings highlight the importance of human-centered implementation strategies that support employee adaptation during transitions to collaborative robotics.