Mapping factory workers' characteristics with emotional states and task performance: a case study in asset maintenance

According to the industry 5.0 paradigm, workers' well-being and mental health is essential for achieving remarkable success in industries, particularly in terms of productivity, safety, job satisfaction and work-life balance. This inferential study explores the interplay among operator characteristics, emotional states, and time-pressure management on task performance, assessed through the completion time and human errors during a maintenance activity conducted under two different perceived workload conditions. Statistical analysis revealed a significant effect of emotional arousal on the time spent performing maintenance activities. Additionally, the number of attempts, in interaction with both skill level and perceived task appropriateness, influences task completion time and human errors. These findings emphasize the importance of these factors in promoting a proactive, solution-oriented approach, fostering effective troubleshooting and decision-making. The results of this study contribute to refining human factors management in maintenance activities, improving efficiency while prioritizing employee well-being.