This new era goes beyond simply deploying new technologies—it seeks to apply them with a broader, more human‑centric mindset. Industry 5.0 aims to build a sustainable, people‑focused manufacturing ecosystem.

As policymakers in Europe and North America begin embedding Industry 5.0 into their forward‑looking agendas, the approach is rapidly finding its place in Aerospace & Defense (A&D). Here are the key technological advances driving Industry 5.0 toward a better future:

Human–Robot Collaboration: Cobots Take the Stage

Industry 5.0 emphasizes seamless teamwork between humans and robots (cobots). Technologies like IoT, additive manufacturing, augmented reality, and digital twins have already made projects faster, more efficient, and data‑driven. They weave a “digital thread” through every phase of production—an ideal environment for cobots.

Where Industry 4.0 focused on connectivity, digitization, and automation, Industry 5.0 spotlights human–robot collaboration and the quality of that interaction. In A&D, we’re already seeing the fruits of this synergy as military‑grade technologies and equipment make their way into commercial applications.

People‑Centric Approach: Easing the Skills Shortage

The A&D sector faces a growing skills gap—69 percent of companies report higher turnover over the past year, underscoring fierce competition for talent. Industry 5.0 offers technologies that support older workers and attract new generations. Wearable assistive devices boost strength, productivity, and safety.

By digitizing and modernizing roles, production becomes exciting again. Advanced engineering tools create demand for highly skilled, well‑paid jobs—reigniting enthusiasm for manufacturing careers.

Digital Thread: Agile, Personalized Production

Hyper‑personalization is now part of everyday life for consumers, and A&D equipment manufacturing is following suit. Smart factories and digitally‑enabled products feed data back into design, production, and performance improvements.

Take Calidus, a Middle Eastern defense manufacturer: with IFS software, they eliminated manual processes to deliver the right part at the right time and place—enabling true production agility.

ESG Focus: Sustainable, Societal‑Centered Manufacturing

A core tenet of Industry 5.0 is aligning production with social and sustainability goals—extending human‑centric approaches from the shop floor to the boardroom. CEOs under pressure for sustainability need transparency around environmental impacts. The enterprise systems managing the value chain play a vital role in enabling circular, sustainable operations.

Supply‑Chain Awareness: The Fuel of 5.0

Industry 5.0 also centers on resilience. Efforts to reshore production and logistics safeguard supply chains while cutting the environmental toll of long‑haul shipping. Technologies that forecast demand and offer granular visibility into product flows will be critical.

Research by IFS finds that 72 percent of senior decision‑makers now favor domestic suppliers over international ones. Best‑in‑class supply‑chain management will be pivotal to a successful transition to Industry 5.0.

Source: IFS Blog (May 2024)—“Meet the Cobots & Their Friends and Family: A&D Manufacturing Gets a Human‑Centric Industry 5.0 Makeover”