Industry 4 and industry 5, how they relate to each other ..

We all know that the recent five centuries have been very important and monumental in human civilization and development. From Industry 1.0 (1760 to 1840 AD) that focused on steam engines, printing press and the textile loom to Industry 2.0 (1870 - 1940 AD) where invention of electricity was a major prime mover , humanity developed a lot in the course of 200 years. Industry 2.0 saw the development of extensive transportation and communication networks with the development of the telegraph. (click here) The invention of mass production through the assembly line that came up at the Ford motor plants in US was a major development that saw improvement in industrial productivity and output.

Industry 3.0 known as the digital era starts with the invention of the digital computer with the development of the information theory system by Claude Shannon around 1940s. The first digital computer ENIAC came out in 1955. The invention and development of Internet from the text era to the multi media era, world wide web (www) was also a great development in Industry 3.0

Industry 4.0 refers to the fourth industrial revolution, characterized by the integration of advanced technologies such as artificial intelligence, the Internet of Things (IoT), and automation into manufacturing and other industries, Augmented Reality / Virtual Reality, 3D Printing, Bog Data and Block Chains. We are now at the frontiers of Industry 4.0 and are already visualising changes happening in the AI and 3D printing areas, not to mention of Augmented Reality changes taking place in the field of entertainment. Google Maps is one of the most popular AI app that is being used across the world freely by the public as well as corporates innovating to give a new experience to the customer be it in commerce, banking, logistics, healthcare retail and so on.

 

Looking from an industrial / manufacturing perspective we find the goal of Industry 4.0 is to create smart factories and other smart industrial systems that are highly efficient, flexible, and capable of delivering personalized products and services. The term is often used in the context of Germany's Industry 4.0 strategy, which aims to promote the adoption of these technologies in order to maintain the country's position as a leading industrial power. (click here)

 

Industry 5.0 refers to the fifth industrial revolution, which builds upon the human adaptability, environmental sustainability, digitalization and interconnectivity of Industry 4.0 by incorporating advances in areas such as biotechnology, quantum computing, and artificial intelligence. Industry 5.0 is characterized by the seamless integration of physical and digital systems, leading to new levels of efficiency, innovation, and value creation. 

 

The focus is on creating a more sustainable, human-centered industry that leverages technology to address societal challenges such as climate change and income inequality. The exact definition and scope of Industry 5.0 is still evolving, but it is generally seen as representing the next stage of industrial development that will shape the future of work and economic growth.

According to the European Union Industry 5.0 “provides a vision of industry that aims beyond efficiency and productivity as the sole goals, and reinforces the role and the contribution of industry to society.” and “It places the well being of the worker at the centre of the production process and uses new technologies to provide prosperity beyond jobs and growth while respecting the production limits of the planet.” - Jeroen Kraiijenbrink, Forbes, May '22

What are the similarities and differences in industry 4 and industry 5 ?

Industry 4.0 and Industry 5.0 share some similarities in that they both represent new stages of industrial development characterized by the integration of advanced technologies into manufacturing and other industries. They also both aim to create more efficient, flexible, and innovative industrial systems that deliver improved products and services to customers.

However, there are also some differences between Industry 4.0 and Industry 5.0:

• Focus: Industry 4.0 focuses primarily on the digitalization and automation of manufacturing processes, while Industry 5.0 places a greater emphasis on sustainability, human-centered values, and the integration of biological systems with digital and physical ones. Preserving earth's ecological and resource integrity by promoting circular economy, Carbon neutrality, renewable integration and resource efficiency will remain the focus of Industry 5.0 (click here)
  

• Technologies: Industry 4.0 is centered around technologies such as artificial intelligence, the Internet of Things (IoT), 3D Printing, AR/VR, Block chains and automation, while Industry 5.0 adds new technologies such as biotechnology, quantum computing, and advanced materials to the mix.

• Outcomes: Industry 4.0 aims to improve efficiency, flexibility, and innovation in manufacturing, while Industry 5.0 has a broader goal of creating a more sustainable and equitable industrial system that addresses societal challenges such as climate change and income inequality, focusing on efficient, sustainable and recyclable resource usage.

Overall, Industry 4.0 and Industry 5.0 represent two distinct stages of industrial development that build upon each other, with Industry 5.0 incorporating new technologies and values to take industrial systems to the next level.

Bain research published in HBR '21 (Future proofing your organisation, Micheal, Garten and Schwartz, Sept, '21 HBR) speaks of how Industry 4.0 is redefining our organisations and employees helping align them with the pressures of Industry 4.0 and 5.0.

Overall, the environment looks set for our technological transformation to the new paradigms that will redefine the way we act, interact and live through the next hundred years as we move from mechanisation, electrification, automation, digitalisation and personalisation in the five IR stages.

George.