Decision modeling of the challenges to human–robot collaboration in industrial environment: a real world example of an emerging economy

The purpose of this paper is to develop a framework to identify and evaluate the challenges in the establishment of human–robot collaboration (HRC) in the industrial environment. Based on a semi systematic literature review, twenty challenges in the establishment of HRC in the industrial environment have been identified and evaluated in a real-world industrial environment. To evaluate the challenges, an integrated multi-criteria decision-making technique consisting of analytic hierarchy process (AHP) and Decision-Making Trial and Evaluation Laboratory (DEMATEL) in the Fermatean fuzzy system (FFS) context is used. Outcome of FFS-AHP indicates task planning, and task allocation, initial cost of investment, lack of reliability, energy consumption, and safety interaction as the top five challenges in establishing HRC industrial environment. FFS-DEMATEL categorizes the initial cost of investment, energy consumption, lack of reliability, safety interaction, task planning and task allocation, level of automation, and workplace design into cause group while the remaining thirteen challenges comes under effect group. Also, these seven challenges come under decisive category while thirteen challenges come under independent category. This study not only focuses on the challenges in the HRC in the industrial environment but also sheds light on the importance of the transition towards I4.0. The findings of the study help industrial management in taking precautionary actions to overcome the challenges in the establishment of HRC in the industrial environment. To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this study is one of few initial attempts that address a decision modelling framework to evaluate the challenges to HRC.