With the evolution of traditional production towards smart manufacturing, humans and machines interact dynamically to handle complex production systems in semi-automated environments when full automation is not possible. To avoid undesirable side effects, and to exploit the full performance potential of experts, it is crucial to consider the human perspective when developing new technologies. Specifically, human sub-tasks during machine operation must be described to gain insights into cognitive processes. This research proposes a cognition-based framework by integrating a number of known psychological concepts. The focus is on the description of cognitive (team) processes in the resolution of anomalies within a manufacturing process with interdisciplinary experts working together. An observational eye tracking study with retrospective think-aloud interviews (N = 3) provides empirical evidence for all cognitive processes proposed in the framework, such as regular process monitoring and—in case of a detected anomaly—diagnosis, problem solving, and resolution. Moreover, the role of situation awareness, individual expertise and (cognitive) team processes is analyzed and described. Further, implications regarding a human-centered development of future production systems are discussed. The present research provides a starting point for understanding and supporting cognitive (team) processes during intelligent manufacturing that will dominate the production landscape within Industry 5.0.

The Box Task combined with a Detection Response Task (BT + DRT) is a relatively less investigated but promising method for evaluating visual-manual and cognitive task demand due to the interaction with in-vehicle information systems while driving. The BT includes the tracking of a dynamic box whose size and position follow a sinusoidal pattern with uniform amplitudes and frequencies. However, it is unclear whether participants are able to predict and adapt to these uniform dynamics, which might lead to a reduced sensitivity of the BT + DRT. Within the present study, it was aimed to examine differences in BT + DRT performance depending on uniform and non-uniform BT dynamics. A laboratory study was conducted with N = 41 participants. The experimental conditions differed in the type and difficulty level of the secondary tasks as well as in the BT dynamics (uniform, varying amplitude, varying frequency). While the uniform BT dynamics could be more predictable, the non-uniform BT dynamics were designed slightly easier in their difficulty using a lower frequency or amplitude. The results revealed no performance benefits when performing uniform BT dynamics compared to non-uniform BT dynamics. The frequency BT condition was related to a significantly lower variability of box position and higher gaze duration on the secondary task compared to the uniform BT dynamics. These findings suggest that participants are not or only negligible able to adapt to the uniform BT dynamics. Therefore, it is recommended to use the uniform BT dynamics as suggested and implemented in previous studies.

Road Safety interventions intended to strengthen Traffic Safety Culture (TSC) may address conditions within the wider road transport system, ultimately influencing the shared values, beliefs, and norms, and motivation of road users. Selecting interventions for a particular TSC challenge requires public authorities and practitioners to consider the implementation context. This paper presents the conceptual and methodological foundations of the proposed Roads4All Decision Support Toolkit (DST). Stakeholder user stories, survey responses, and project knowledge informed a preliminary intervention catalogue, structured profiles and filters, and a TSC-oriented semantic model. The proposed DST architecture combines context-sensitive semantic matching with direct browsing of the intervention catalogue and safety impacts knowledge map. Natural language processing and machine learning are envisaged to support input interpretation and relevance assessment. The DST would present interventions’ potential contributions to TSC alongside implementation considerations. Its usability and retrieval relevance remain to be evaluated.

Traffic safety culture offers a perspective on the shared values, beliefs, attitudes and norms through which actors understand and enact road safety. Translating this perspective into intervention design requires a clear connection between system conditions, cultural processes and road user behaviour. This paper presents the qualitative-integrative component of the Roads4All framework, developed through a synthesis of existing approaches and refined through an interdisciplinary expert consultation. The framework combines a multilevel system perspective with a behavioural pathway perspective. It distinguishes micro-, meso-, macro- and magna-level influences and treats shared safety-related cognitions as the cultural core, while recognising reciprocal relationships with behaviour and contextual conditions. A hypothetical fleet-speeding example illustrates how practitioners can identify intervention levels, formulate mechanisms and distinguish behavioural outcomes from cultural change. The framework provides a structure for developing context-sensitive intervention hypotheses and complementary measures. It does not establish causal effects or demonstrate intervention effectiveness. Future research should operationalise group-level cultural constructs and examine the proposed relationships through longitudinal and intervention studies.