Published April 1, 2026 | Version v1
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Industry 5.0: Tracing the Journey and Shaping the Future

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Industrial transformation is fundamentally a socio-technical process that integrates both technological advancements and human factors. Industry 5.0 has recently emerged as a concept that emphasizes a human-centric approach to industrial development. It focuses on aligning technological innovation with the well-being of workers, societal needs, and sustainable practices, including efficient energy use, responsible material processing, and optimized product lifecycles. This study conducts a tertiary-level analysis of thirty-two existing literature reviews on Industry 5.0, supported by bibliometric insights derived from the Scopus database. The findings reveal that research on Industry 5.0 has evolved through three distinct phases since 2018, initially marked by its differentiation from Industry 4.0. Recent research trends highlight a growing emphasis on circular manufacturing approaches, driven by advanced, human-oriented digital technologies capable of predicting and addressing potential impacts proactively. Unlike Industry 4.0, Industry 5.0 adopts a broader, future-focused, and cross-sectoral perspective. From a theoretical standpoint, this paper synthesizes key insights from existing literature to provide a clearer understanding of the Industry 5.0 research landscape and outlines directions for future exploration. From a practical perspective, it identifies critical societal considerations that organizations should integrate into their digital transformation strategies, alongside the goal of enhancing economic performance.

 

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Submitted
2026-04-01
Industry 4.0 emerged as a policy-led initiative aimed at transforming manufacturing through the integration of advanced digital technologies. First introduced in 2011 as part of Germany's high-tech strategy, the concept rapidly gained global attention. It encompasses a wide range of technologies such as cloud computing, the Internet of Things (IoT), artificial intelligence, autonomous robotics, augmented reality, and blockchain, all working together to enable the development of smart and interconnected factories. Over the past decade, research in Industry 4.0 has significantly improved manufacturing connectivity and laid the groundwork for the evolution of Industry 5.0, which emphasizes the reintroduction of human involvement within cyber-physical systems.

References

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