Anyone who sees usability as an optional extra has failed to understand what makes mechanical engineering fit for the future. German mechanical engineering is unquestionably a world leader in technology. Engineering expertise, precision and performance are its strengths. Yet every strength also contains a weakness: the very real danger of getting stuck in complexity. The reality on many factory floors is this: highly advanced machines with interfaces that look like relics of the 1990s. They come with lengthy training, sources of error and uncertainty. With skilled workers in short supply, this becomes a serious risk. Anyone hoping to attract young people must avoid presenting them with technology that is more complicated than their smartphones.
The turning point
Usability means fewer operating errors, greater safety and faster training—in minutes rather than days. That can make the difference between skilled workers staying and leaving again. Usability does not end at the screen. It concerns the entire machine, from straightforward assembly and quick service access to safe maintenance. Every point of contact counts. If commissioning already becomes a test of patience or leaves service technicians scratching their heads, the company loses trust and time. Usability therefore means designing hardware, software and service as a whole that supports people rather than overwhelming them. Only then can we create real added value that wins in the market.
A recent brief study by the VDMA shows that 90% of machine manufacturers see better usability as a crucial lever. Yet in day-to-day practice, budgets, expertise or management support are often lacking. Let's be honest: these are excuses, not reasons—and they cost market share.
Usability is as fundamental to a machine's success as a key component. No engineer would dream of leaving out an axle or a bearing simply because the budget was tight. So why cut spending on a factor that determines efficiency, safety and market share?
The real challenge lies elsewhere: finding the courage to design machines that inspire people instead of overwhelming them. That is precisely what separates an average position from a leading one.
The task
The technologies have long been available: AI assistance systems, virtual maintenance and adaptive HMIs. Yet technology alone is not enough. What matters is the person who wants to operate the machine, rather than the machine itself. The task is therefore to tame complexity, create clarity and inspire enthusiasm. Customers expect technology that makes immediate, intuitive sense.
One thing is clear: usability is not an optional extra. It multiplies efficiency. It determines market share, access to young talent and, ultimately, our industry's ability to remain competitive in the future. Without usability, mechanical engineering remains a spectator in global competition rather than a winner. Those who act today secure their future and their lead. Take electric mobility: its potential was apparent almost 20 years ago, yet it was underestimated for a long time. Today it is a matter of survival. Mechanical engineering faces the same dynamic if we neglect usability and strategic design.