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About

Frauke Kordtomeikel is a researcher at the forefront of human-centered production systems, with a primary focus on the intersection of data-driven modeling and human factors in manufacturing. Her key research areas include Human Digital Shadows, the Internet of Production, and socio-technical systems design. Kordtomeikel’s major contribution lies in challenging the technocentric paradigm that dominates production research. In her highly cited 2021 paper, “Human Digital Shadow: Data-based Modeling of Users and Usage in the Internet of Production” (30 citations), she pioneers a framework that integrates human actors into the digital shadow concept—aggregating, linking, and abstracting data not just from machines, but from the people who operate them. This work repositions the human as an active, data-rich component of production ecosystems, enabling more adaptive and inclusive manufacturing environments. By bridging the gap between technical data models and human behavior, Kordtomeikel’s research has significant implications for worker safety, ergonomics, and efficiency in smart factories. Her work is a vital step toward truly collaborative human-machine systems, earning her recognition as a leading voice in human-centric Industry 4.0 research.