Explainable AI (XAI) Framework for Transparent Human–Machine Job Scheduling in Hybrid Printing Operations

Abstract

Hybrid printing operations integrate conventional manufacturing, additive manufacturing, and digital printing technologies, to create complex scheduling challenges arising from dynamic production environments, heterogeneous resources, and the limited transparency of conventional Artificial Intelligence (AI)-based scheduling systems. This study develops an Explainable Artificial Intelligence (XAI) framework for transparent human–machine job scheduling for the improvement of scheduling efficiency, interpretability, transparency, and collaborative decision-making in Industry 5.0 manufacturing. A systematic systems-engineering methodology that comprise system modeling, data acquisition and preprocessing, AI-based scheduling optimization, and explainability evaluation was adopted. The framework integrates reinforcement learning, multi-objective optimization, and XAI techniques for the generation of optimized scheduling decisions accompanied by human-readable explanations. Experimental evaluation was conducted in a simulated hybrid printing environment with the application of scheduling metrics, including makespan, flow time, machine utilization, energy consumption, and production cost, together with explainability metrics such as transparency, interpretability, and user trust. The results indicate that the proposed framework outperforms conventional scheduling approaches by improving production efficiency, reducing scheduling time and energy consumption, optimizing resource utilization, and balancing workloads. Moreover, the explainability component enhances users' understanding and validation of AI-generated scheduling decisions, thereby strengthening trust, accountability, and effective human–machine collaboration. The proposed framework provides a transparent, scalable, and trustworthy scheduling solution that advances Explainable AI applications in hybrid printing operations and supports sustainable, human-centric Industry 5.0 manufacturing.