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About

About

Researcher, in technology adoption and innovation process, at the Centre for Enterprise of Systems Engineering from INESC TEC. She is invited Professor at Faculty of Engineering of University of Porto . Before joining INESC TEC she worked as a senior consultant in health strategy management and planning, developing several consulting projects for the healthcare sector's regional and national government bodies and she was invited assistant and invited Professor at the University of Minho (2003-2017). Ana obtained a PhD in Engineering and Industrial Management (Faculty of Engineering of University of Porto, 2016), an M.S. in Quantitative Methods Applied to Management (Porto Business School of University of Porto, 2003) and a B.S. in Engineering and Industrial Management (University of Aveiro, 1998). Member of the executive committee of the iilab (Industry and Innovation lab of INESC TEC) responsible for the training area. Supervisor of several Master's theses. Researcher/consultant in several R&D projects, funded by different entities, in technology adoption, innovation process, design and development of advanced training programmes and healthcare planning topics. Author of several publications in international journals in management, technology management and healthcare planning/management. Her main research interests are technology management and technology implementation.

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Details

Details

  • Name

    Ana Cristina Simões
  • Role

    Senior Researcher
  • Since

    15th June 2011
018
Publications

2026

Predictors for decision-making in collaborative robots adoption: evidence from the Brazilian manufacturing industry

Authors
de Sousa, PR; Bronzo, M; Torres, NT Jr; Vivaldini, M; Simoes, AC; de Jesus, TS; Couto, G;

Publication
OPERATIONS MANAGEMENT RESEARCH

Abstract
As collaborative robots increasingly redefine industrial automation, understanding the factors that drive their adoption is essential to operations management. This study examines the main drivers of collaborative robot adoption in the Brazilian manufacturing sector by combining theory-driven framing with a machine learning classification approach. It was developed a Random Forest classifier to identify the strongest predictors of cobot adoption and to rank their relative importance. Data were collected from a sample of respondents-primarily managers and chief executive officers-representing 300 industrial companies. Grounded in the Technology-Organization-Environment (TOE) framework and complemented by Diffusion of Innovations (DoI) and Institutional (INT) perspectives, the analysis shows that technological advantages, namely space efficiency, cost reduction, and ease of integration, are critical drivers of adoption. Organizational factors, including proactive managerial involvement and alignment with an innovation-oriented culture, significantly increase the likelihood of collaborative robot uptake. The model demonstrated robust predictive performance and produced interpretable variable importance scores that confirm the relative influence of technological and managerial factors. These findings provide a structured lens for understanding and guiding managerial decision-making on cobot adoption and translate into practical recommendations for managers.

2026

Robotic Process Automation: A Qualitative Journey Through RPA's Impacts on Company Employees

Authors
Simoes, E; Simoes, AC; Rodrigues, JC; Lourenço, P;

Publication
ADVANCES IN PRODUCTION MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS. CYBER-PHYSICAL-HUMAN PRODUCTION SYSTEMS: HUMAN-AI COLLABORATION AND BEYOND, APMS 2025, PT I

Abstract
Companies are increasingly adopting technologies such as Robotic Process Automation (RPA) to reduce costs and improve productivity. RPA is deployed in areas like accounting, payroll, and finance to automate business processes. While RPA does not necessarily result in unemployment, it has notable effects on employees and company governance. This study explores the impact of RPA implementation on employees and company governance, using a qualitative methodology based on thirteen semi-structured interviews with RPA experts from four multinational companies. The results indicate that the impacts of RPA vary depending on the automation strategy adopted (task-oriented or process-oriented). In task-oriented strategies, citizen developers often play a central role, contributing to rapid implementation. In contrast, process-oriented strategies tend to rely on professional developers and require more structured governance. The findings also point out that RPA influences not only task execution but also employee upskilling, job role redefinition, and the evolution of governance models. The study proposes an integrated framework linking automation strategy, governance, upskilling, and employee adaptation, offering both practical insights and theoretical contributions to digital transformation research and for managing risks and enhancing workforce capabilities. It also advances academic understanding by linking real-world RPA implementations to organisational and technological impacts.

2026

Human-Centered Augmented Reality in Manufacturing: Enhancing Efficiency, Accuracy, and Operator Adoption

Authors
Ramalho, FR; Soares, AL; Simoes, AC; Almeida, AH; Oliveira, M;

Publication
ADVANCES IN PRODUCTION MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS. CYBER-PHYSICAL-HUMAN PRODUCTION SYSTEMS: HUMAN-AI COLLABORATION AND BEYOND, APMS 2025, PT I

Abstract
This paper evaluates an Augmented Reality (AR) solution designed to support quality control in a assembly line inspection station before body marriage at a European automotive manufacturer. A threephase methodology was applied: an AS-IS assessment, a formative evaluation of an intermediate prototype, and a summative evaluation under real production conditions. The AR solution aimed to improve task standardization, non-value-added time (NVAT), and enhance operator accuracy. The results showed that operators successfully developed inspections using the AR tool, identifying and correcting non-conformities (NOKs) while maintaining task duration. Participants valued having contextual information directly in their field of vision and reported increased rigor and consistency. However, usability and ergonomic improvements were noted, such as headset weight, gesture interaction, and visibility over dark components. The findings highlight AR's potential to support operator autonomy and accuracy in industrial environments while emphasizing the need for human-centered design and integration to ensure long-term adoption.

2025

Exploring the impacts of Industry 4.0 technologies on the triple bottom line of sustainability in industrial companies

Authors
Almeida, D; Simoes, AC; Fernandes, A;

Publication
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ADVANCED MANUFACTURING TECHNOLOGY

Abstract
Industrial companies operate in a context of dynamic technological innovation, in which new technologies are adopted with a high impact internally and externally, leveraging their competitive advantages. Usually, managers decide to adopt technologies, often without realising the impacts on the company, but mainly supported by a strategic vision and the pursuit of differentiation. This study aims to describe the impacts of adopting Industry 4.0 technologies in industrial companies, focusing on sustainability's economic, social, and environmental dimensions and explaining which Industry 4.0 technologies contribute to each impact. This study used qualitative methodology, collecting data through interviews, internal documents, and observation. The results of this study identified new impacts in the three dimensions of sustainability, as well as the relationships between impacts and respective technologies. This study contributes to the literature by enriching and validating the impacts of adopting Industry 4.0 technologies on sustainability dimensions and linking these impacts with the technologies. In practice, it provides important insights to managers and decision-makers of manufacturing companies in making more informed decisions on adopting i4.0 technologies.

2025

User Acceptance in Human-Robot Interaction: Exploring the Role of Anthropomorphic Mechanisms in Manufacturing Environments-A Systematic Literature Review

Authors
Pinto, A; Solovov, A; Simoes, AC; Menezes, P;

Publication
JOURNAL OF INTELLIGENT & ROBOTIC SYSTEMS

Abstract
In pursuing Industry 5.0's vision, which emphasises human well-being and the seamless integration of robots into manufacturing processes, understanding the role of anthropomorphic design is crucial. Anthropomorphic design, where robots exhibit human-like, animal-like, or even entirely novel traits (e.g. a display scrolling text), aims to improve human-robot interaction (HRI) and enhance human acceptance within manufacturing contexts. Understanding the optimal degree of human-readable characteristics in robots is essential for further advancements in this domain. This systematic literature review aims to identify anthropomorphic mechanisms in HRI and their effect on human acceptance in manufacturing. Using the PRISMA methodology, a systematic literature review was conducted across the WOS, EBSCO, and SCOPUS databases, resulting in the selection of four articles for final analysis. A quality assessment of the articles was conducted. On a scale of 0 to 16, article scores ranged from 10 to 15, with an average score of 13. The findings indicate that while current research provides valuable insights, it has predominantly focused on conventional anthropomorphic mechanisms from social robotics, such as basic human-like features (e.g., facial expressions, gestures), without exploring more advanced or novel traits. This highlights significant room for further exploration and innovation in industrial settings to enhance user acceptance and interaction. The study underscores the necessity for continued research and development to leverage advanced anthropomorphic designs that can better fulfil the goals of Industry 5.0.