Digital Transformations in the Challenge of Activity and Work

9Integrating Collaborative Robotics into Work Situations: The Intentions of SME Managers in the Digital Transformation of their Companies

This chapter focuses on the development of the digital transformation intention of SMEs by their managers, through the case of collaborative robotics. Based on a dialogical model of the design processes, this work takes into account the importance of the consideration of “reality” by the managers, to shape their transformation “desires”: in the perspectives they mobilize, the managers will consider material and social circumstances of their company and not only have the goal of controlling productivity.

9.1. Transformations in work situations seen through the prism of technocentric solutions

The work presented in this chapter deals with one of the questions of the interdisciplinary research project ANR¹ HECTTOR² which focuses on work transformations related to collaborative robotics technologies in small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). To date, collaborative robotics appear to be very emblematic of the digital transitions towards an “Industry of the Future”.

In the French context, the “Industry of the Future” program aims to encourage industrial companies – particularly SMEs which, for the most part, are the fabric of French industry – to modernize their production apparatus through technological and organizational changes. It is in response to an observation made by the États Généraux de l’Industrie (French General States of Industry), ...