Emixa expert Kelly Fransen on the importance of top UX design in manufacturing transformations

Top user experience and user interface design are often confused with being purely aesthetic criteria, but there is more to it than sleek colours and a modern look. According to Kelly Fransen, senior consultant with Emixa, the best UX feels logical, and helps users realise clear and predictable results, something particularly important in the manufacturing sector, where workers face challenging, and sometimes dangerous conditions.

In manufacturing, where processes are often complex and mistakes can be costly, leading UX design is more than a nice-to-have part of a product – it is an essential aspect, makes the difference between efficiency and frustration. In a world where everything is digitalising at high speed, and complexity across each industrial process is spiralling, it is important not to lose sight of the importance – and simplicity – of the art of UX.

Emphasising this, Fransen points to a decidedly low-tech example of what this means in practice. The shift from the glass bottles which stored various sauces – which generations spent lengthy periods tapping to empty – to the modern, plastic design.

She explains, “The new ketchup bottle design shows what UX is. Not how something looks, but how logically it works. With one bottle you have to shake and wait, while the squeeze bottle works straight away.”

These are core principles which apply to other, tech-driven changes. Because ultimately, no firm can lose sight of the fact that “people are not machines; their needs differ from system requirements”. And “thoughtful UX design bridges this gap”.

Headquartered in Naarden, in the Netherlands, Emixa is a consulting firm which supports clients across the product and service lifecycle. With over 530 experts across Europe, it combines deep industry experience with cutting-edge technologies to deliver help organisations make the most of the latest technology. Fransen joined the firm in 2022, and over the last three years has seen how it supports companies to get the most from their UX as a core part of that end-to-end offering.

First things first

According to Fransen, “Every design starts with one simple question: What goal does the user need to achieve?”

It is only after the answers to this are clear, that an organisation can plot ways to making the user-journey logical, short and predictable. But once the end goals are apparent, designers can consider a guided flow, which makes users less dependent on prior knowledge or experience.

“For example, in an application developed for construction workers, the process of ordering materials was simplified as much as possible. A user only needs to click the “+ Order” button, after which they are fully guided through the ordering steps. In this way, the user can place an order quickly and easily, while the order still contains all the specifications the back-office needs.”

To this end, leading UX helps to reduce the likelihood of human error, as it emphasises critical actions with clear warnings, and uses confirmation steps where necessary. And it can help prevent risky choices through smart default settings – something which in key industries can also serve as a critical safety measure.

In a highly competitive consumer environment, this kind of development makes the difference between a good and a great design – and whether customers will return for future iterations, as well as recommend a product to others. When the right action stands out, the wrong action is hard to make, and the user can move through the process with confidence, that is the sweet-spot to aim for.

“A system that works intuitively does not drain energy,” continues Fransen. “As soon as someone has to search, hesitate or click back, the process slows down and trust in the system starts to erode. In environments where complex systems – such as a Manufacturing Execution System – support daily production processes, good UX helps to make complex workflows clear and logical, enabling operators to act quickly and confidently.”

Designing for the shop floor

The age of digitalisation and data science mean there is now constant change across every aspect of the manufacturing process. But while that requires more sophisticated tools, it also requires more intuitive design to help workers at every level of an organisation make the most of them.

One risk of not taking this into account is bombarding the user with too much information – so‑called “feature fatigue”. This means users become overloaded when a product or screen presents too many functions or details at once. In the context of manufacturing, people often work under time pressure, which makes it essential to avoid inundating them with endless features.

Fransen warns, “Users must be able to distinguish within milliseconds between stable, at‑risk and critical situations that require immediate action. To achieve this, you start by defining what truly matters on the screen, then apply strong visual hierarchy so the most important data stands out immediately and naturally prompts the right response.”

Designers cannot afford to roll out one-size-fits-all UX, either. A factory or construction site has constraints that an office does not – with practical impacts you might well take for granted.

“Action buttons must be large enough for use with gloves,” Fransen goes on. “Contrasts must be clear enough for very dark or very bright environments, and navigation must be kept to a minimum due to time pressure… By taking this into account – for example, with extra‑large touch targets, sufficient spacing between buttons, and minimalist interactions – you ensure the application remains reliable and safe to use, even when the user cannot operate it with full physical precision.”

But even with the clearest interface and most considerate button designs, people still make mistakes. And in a high-pressure environment where speed, distraction, and physical tiredness may play a role, design must also work to catch or prevent potentially dangerous errors.

The Emixa expert adds, “Good UX has a direct impact on safety. In environments with heavy machinery, high risks and constant movement, a poor interface can lead to dangerous mistakes. An unclear button, confusing colour or badly phrased message can all result in wrong assumptions – and wrong assumptions lead to wrong actions.”

What does good UX deliver?

Ultimately, when manufacturing firms implement a clear UX process, it benefits both the user and the organisation. Intuitive ordering flow ensures the application is actively used and orders are processed smoothly. Staff on site are safer, and do not waste time on complex administrative tasks, and back‑office staff no longer need to chase additional information from the people placing orders or from other systems.

By removing friction, onboarding becomes easier and less training is needed, while the work itself becomes more consistent and less error‑prone. Ultimately, good UX leads to higher efficiency on the shop floor, less frustration and more trust in digital tools – exactly what is needed to make digitalisation in manufacturing truly successful.

Fransen concludes, “By designing from the human perspective, you create systems that are intuitive, efficient and resilient to errors... In a world where digitalisation continues to accelerate, UX is the key to making technology truly effective and safe on the shop floor.”