Industry5.0 and sociotechnical theory: theoretical underpinnings
Industry5.0 and sociotechnical theory: theoretical underpinnings
As the European manufacturing sector has increasingly embraced the Industry4.0 (I4.0) paradigm of near-total automation based on connectivity, data, robotics and machine learning algorithms, there has been a tendency to overlook the role of the humans in the loop. In this regard, I4.0 can be seen as technologically deterministic, with humans acting as an organic part of the overall machine. However, the latest moves within the sector – Industry5.0 (I5.0) - has seen an increasing re-emphasis of the wider social value of manufacturing where the knowledge and skills of humans add value to industrial processes. It also foregrounds the role of manufacturing in the wider context of a society and the need to reflect and promote societal goals, such as prosperity, resilience, environmental sustainability, inclusivity, equality, and mental and physical health & wellbeing. These ideas are conceptually underpinned by Sociotechnical Theory, which highlights the interdependencies between people and technologies. This paper explores the origins of sociotechnical theory, what it means for I5.0, and how the European Commission has applied it to I5.0 drives towards human-centric, resilient and sustainable manufacturing. It argues for a mindset change with the introduction of I5.0 from profit-above-all to prosperity-for-all.
Fair, Nicholas
743fd34e-7e2b-42d0-818e-1db641e789be
23 March 2022
Fair, Nicholas
743fd34e-7e2b-42d0-818e-1db641e789be
Fair, Nicholas
(2022)
Industry5.0 and sociotechnical theory: theoretical underpinnings.
I-ESA 2022: Enterprise Interoperability through connected Digital Twins, Universidad Politecnica de Valencia, Valencia, Spain.
23 - 25 Mar 2022.
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Conference or Workshop Item
(Paper)
Abstract
As the European manufacturing sector has increasingly embraced the Industry4.0 (I4.0) paradigm of near-total automation based on connectivity, data, robotics and machine learning algorithms, there has been a tendency to overlook the role of the humans in the loop. In this regard, I4.0 can be seen as technologically deterministic, with humans acting as an organic part of the overall machine. However, the latest moves within the sector – Industry5.0 (I5.0) - has seen an increasing re-emphasis of the wider social value of manufacturing where the knowledge and skills of humans add value to industrial processes. It also foregrounds the role of manufacturing in the wider context of a society and the need to reflect and promote societal goals, such as prosperity, resilience, environmental sustainability, inclusivity, equality, and mental and physical health & wellbeing. These ideas are conceptually underpinned by Sociotechnical Theory, which highlights the interdependencies between people and technologies. This paper explores the origins of sociotechnical theory, what it means for I5.0, and how the European Commission has applied it to I5.0 drives towards human-centric, resilient and sustainable manufacturing. It argues for a mindset change with the introduction of I5.0 from profit-above-all to prosperity-for-all.
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I-ESA22_I5-0_sociotechnical_theory_FINAL_Paper_Submitted
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Published date: 23 March 2022
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I-ESA 2022: Enterprise Interoperability through connected Digital Twins, Universidad Politecnica de Valencia, Valencia, Spain, 2022-03-23 - 2022-03-25
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Local EPrints ID: 456285
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/456285
PURE UUID: e8dd5953-6f28-4103-a2fa-0811299968ea
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Date deposited: 27 Apr 2022 01:25
Last modified: 13 Apr 2024 01:44
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Author:
Nicholas Fair
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