Industry 5 and the Human in Human-Centric Manufacturing

Area of Science:

• Engineering and Manufacturing
• Human-Computer Interaction
• Industrial Sociology

Background:

• Industry 4.0 (I4) revolutionized manufacturing with interconnected technologies, where sensors are crucial for data collection and human-machine interaction.
• Industry 5.0 (I5) evolves I4 by prioritizing human-machine relationships, focusing on collaboration, co-design, and a values-driven approach to address worker concerns like health and safety.
• This study examines how engineering experts incorporate policy-driven values into their understanding and representation of the human element in manufacturing.

Approach:

• A novel interdisciplinary methodology was employed, integrating awareness of diverse disciplinary epistemic values concerning humans and work.
• A systematic literature review of practice-focused engineering papers was conducted.
• Interpretive coding was used to analyze the reviewed literature, identifying themes related to human-centric approaches in manufacturing.

Key Points:

• Evidence suggests an emerging Industry 5.0 (I5) human-centric approach, valuing employees as "end-users" of advanced manufacturing systems.
• There is an observed increase in research output addressing human activity within manufacturing models and related technologies.
• Despite progress, publishing practices indicate that optimizing manufacturing system effectiveness frequently sidelines the consideration of worker voice.

Conclusions:

• Industry 5.0 (I5) principles are being integrated into manufacturing engineering, with a growing focus on the human as an end-user.
• While technological advancements address human activity, the practical implementation often fails to amplify or incorporate worker perspectives.
• Further research is needed to bridge the gap between valuing workers and actively including their voice in the design and implementation of manufacturing systems.