Industry 4.0 and Industry 5.0: Understanding the difference and preparing for the future

The digital transition still represents a challenge for many companies today. However, it is clear that progress has not stopped since the beginning of the first industrial revolution in the 18th century. If manufacturers and their partners are immersed in the development of new tools and processes using new technologies, the basic principle of Industry 4.0, you must know that the next phase of industrialization is already at hand. our doors. What are the principles of Industry 5.0? What are the differences between these two levels? We take stock in this article.

The characteristics of Industry 4.0

First of all, it is essential to go back to the definition of Industry 4.0. This consists of a new generation of intelligent, interconnected factories, in which employees, machines and systems are connected. This concept follows in particular the collapse of the barriers between the physical world and the digital universe, which allows a convergence of industrial production techniques and new digital technologies. The latter embody an essential point for any digitization: IoT platforms, 3D printing, cloud computing, augmented reality, smart data for predictive maintenance, etc.

Industry 4.0 is thus based on a partially cyber-physical system, which allows intelligent production and supply, including on a multi-product plan, which remains at a limited capacity. However, it seeks to keep people at the center of its action plan, in particular through the renewal of processes that guarantee the ergonomics, value and safety of each position. It is therefore a human management that intervenes within the framework of the interactions between the customer, the product and the machine. Industry 4.0 is by no means intended to replace human beings, but to facilitate and optimize cooperation between man and machine.

Features of Industry 5.0

The principles of Industry 5.0 are a logical continuation of those of Industry 4.0. This advanced digitalization would thus embody the next stage in the evolution of manufacturing, in particular by offering autonomous production and supply in factories. At its core is a global cyber-physical system that uses autonomous cognitive agents to manage interactions between customer, product and machine. Industry 5.0 combines the strengths of smart machines, robots and humans, for an ultra-flexible production system aimed at absorbing product and demand variability. It merges cognitive computing capabilities with human intelligence, ingenuity and creativity in 100% collaborative operations. It also guarantees optimized quality and costs, as well as a reduction in waste (through prevention and recycling) and energy expenditure. In addition, industry 5.0 offers faster delivery for a product that is more versatile, more ecological and above all personalized according to customer expectations.

At this point, however, it is essential to clarify that the ultimate goal of Industry 5.0 is not to replace humans. The rise of robotics, and the many possibilities that result from it, are all means and solutions available to manufacturers for the digital transition of their industries. Even if the robots provide precise and perfectly executed work according to their initial settings, they remain inflexible, and have neither the ability to adapt nor the critical spirit that remain the prerogative of human beings. They thus fulfill a dual mission of assistance and collaboration, but which in no way aims to replace workers. Once rid of tedious or repetitive tasks on the production line, they can then focus on the essential points of propulsion of their business, and more particularly the services offered, as well as the environmental and social issues related to them. Humans also play a learning and supervisory role vis-à-vis the machines and cognitive agents that operate at the heart of the connected factory, in particular thanks to their skills in programming and controlling intelligent systems. It is thus placed back at the center of the manufacturing process. The ethical use of technology for a progression of values ​​and human needs is finally at the top of the principles of Industry 5.0.

Industry 5.0 therefore aims to find an ideal balance between efficiency and productivity, while interconnecting machines, processes and systems for maximum performance optimization. It pushes the boundaries and places itself on the horizon of the manufacturing system, in a perfect fusion between artificial intelligence and human creativity. It thus brings its share of advantages and strengths, but also challenges and questions that our teams at Digital Factory will be happy to clarify for you during a future discussion!