Navigating Industry 5.0

Tim Abraham, Managing Director of Dawsongroup Material Handling, shares his insights on task automation and navigating Industry 5.0.

The first industrial revolution began in Britain in the late 18^th century and was propelled by steam power. This was just the first of many industrial revolutions, the second arriving almost a century later. The discovery of new energy sources in gas, oil and electricity paved the way for assembly line production and the internal combustion engine. The third industrial revolution took shape during the second half of the 20^th century, in the form of nuclear power and personal electronics. This revolution was the foundation of automation and advances in programming. The fourth, at turn of the millennium, saw the progress of information and communication technologies through the internet, along with the digitisation of manufacturing and production. Each one has changed the world around us fundamentally. And right now, it is happening again, for the fifth time.

‘Industry 5.0’, as it’s known – already marked by the European Commission as being well underway – refers to the arrival of artificial intelligence and cyber-physical systems (robots and smart machines), with major changes expected for manufacturing and sustainability. In fact, one of the key shifts from Industry 4.0 to 5.0 is a deviation away from the fear of how automation and programable tasks will affect jobs, underlined by the priority to improve conditions for human workers.

Task Automation Today

We experience many forms of task automation in our everyday lives: airport check-in, fast food ordering, prescription refills, and subscription services, to name a few. It remains a divisive topic in business, as the line between improving processes and replacing human jobs can be paper-thin with many businesses still wary of investing in automated systems despite the benefits it might bring. However, the conversation often misses the challenges facing companies right now with many businesses suffering productivity pains because of staff and supply chain shortages.

Continue reading to find out about more about navigating the future of Industry 5.0 and the impact automation could have on your business.

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