Industry 5.0 and the Future of Manufacturing

The first Industrial Revolution brought us mechanical power; the second electrical energy; the third automation.

The current revolution, the fourth, utilizes the Internet of Things (IoT), cloud computing, and machine learning which is used for increased automation and improved communication.

What is Industry 4.0?

The Fourth Industrial Revolution evolved the manufacturing process from physical systems to a mixture of physical systems that ran using cyber processes. This means that cyberinfrastructure must be able to communicate wirelessly with the machines via the Internet of Things.

This two-way communication and the subsequent gathering of data give manufacturers the space to be smart and adaptable.

The Transition to Industry 5.0

Industry 5.0 will take all of the positives from Industry 4.0 and extend a bespoke approach to each individual.

Industry 5.0 will center around a tailored and customized approach for the consumer while pushing more towards sustainability.

Indeed, for manufacturing to hit these sustainable goals, 5.0 must consider how it measures sustainability in terms of the following:

• The environment.
• Societal concerns.
• Human rights

Pushing on from the damage caused by the pandemic will rely on huge steps forward in terms of both environmental and digital advancement, to ensure we can build an economic structure that is both sustainable and resilient moving forward.

What is Industry 5.0?

Industry 5.0 will be made possible by intentionally placing ongoing research, innovation, and technology at the front and center of the transition.

These transitions will move towards manufacturing for a purpose, rather than simply production for profit, and will stand by three core principles: human-focused, sustainability, and resilience.

Human-Focused

A human-centric approach to manufacturing prioritizes the human need over the actual production process.

In other words, manufacturers must understand what tech can do for their employees, and understand how that technology can be developed for the benefit of the worker, rather than what the worker can do with the technology, as is traditionally seen in previous revolutions.

Sustainability

In order for manufacturing to become truly sustainable, it must be able to develop a circular resource process that enables businesses to adopt the three R’s – reuse, repurpose and recycle.

We all know that in order to reduce the impact we have on the environment, and manufacturing must be at the forefront of these changes such as increasing AI and 3D printing to increase personalization, which can optimize resources and minimize wastage.

Resilience

Manufacturers must continue to put in place a robust structure for industrial manufacturing to safeguard from future crises, such as Brexit and COVID-19.

Empowering Human Interactivity through Industry 5.0

Industry 4.0 places a high reliance on robotic technology, but the manufacturing industry has realized that human intervention will almost be required when the new revolution comes to pass.

While, yes, robots are capable of completing repetitive tasks more consistently and precisely, they aren’t able to solve problems and address multi-faceted issues.

This is crucial in manufacturing since making decisions is necessary to keep the whole system operating efficiently.

Industry 5.0 will make the transition from robot to cobot, in which robots are collaborators with the human workers at the center of the manufacturing process.

Humans will use continue to use robots to perform repetitive tasks, while they put themselves to the task of problem-solving and data analyzing.

Creativity and ingenuity from human workers will be at the very core of what Industry 5.0 hopes to become.

What Are the Benefits of Industry 5.0?

• Manufacturing operations can become far more economical when they can cut manufacturing costs.

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• Manufacturing becomes a beacon for the sustainability movement, rather than simply producing products and then passing this responsibility onto the consumer.

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• Workers are once again placed at the center of the process, producing further opportunity for upskilling employees and creative various avenues for continued growth.

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• Manufacturing operations can once again focus their energies on finding solutions to age-old issues, such as protecting resources, promoting sustainability, and promoting technologies that could be used for the good of society in the same way as Blockchain and IoT have done.

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• A larger focus on becoming more resilient in the face of further external events, such as Brexit, COVID-19, and recessions.

Takeaways

In the modern age efficiency is a minimum requirement – it’s why we use email rather than sending letters or buying on Amazon rather than heading to the high street.

So, the question in this sense is not about whether Industry 5.0 will utilize robots, but rather how we can use them to achieve the maximum benefits for the consumer, manufacturer, employee, and the planet at large.

By manufacturers must approach this new dawn with caution, achieving the correct balance for true efficiency.

They must ask themselves, how can technologies and machines be used to aid people and the world? Asking this question is the distinction between Industry 5.0 and the preceding revolutions and symbolizes a shift in our connection with technology and the planet.