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The Preliminary Industry 5.0 Assessment Framework: A key milestone in the PROSPECTS 5.0 Project

The Preliminary Industry 5.0 Assessment Framework: A key milestone in the PROSPECTS 5.0 Project

January 24, 2025

The preliminary Industry 5.0 Assessment Framework (I5.AF) published by the PROSPECTS 5.0 project represents a fundamental milestone, marking the culmination of the project’s first year. This framework lays the groundwork for aligning industrial practices with the core principles of Industry 5.0: human-centricity, environmental sustainability, and industrial resilience. Developed through a collaborative and iterative process, the I5.AF reflects the collective insights of academic research, industry feedback, and stakeholder engagement.

Building the framework: insights and methodology

The construction of the I5.AF began with a comprehensive literature review of approximately 80 scientific articles, reports, and relevant projects. This effort was complemented by a Delphi survey, collecting expert insights on the key dimensions of Industry 5.0. Based on these findings, an initial set of Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) was identified and presented in Brussels during a workshop in May 2024, engaging key EU-level stakeholders, including industry representatives, policymakers, and researchers. The feedback received during this workshop helped refine the assessment criteria, addressing gaps and expanding on measurement tools and data requirements.

These KPIs were further validated through a series of 14 workshops conducted between July and October 2024 with the project’s use case companies. These sessions were tailored to accommodate diverse formats—on-site, online, and hybrid—ensuring broad participation. Notably, many workshops were held at the premises of the use cases, providing invaluable insights into everyday industrial operations. The workshops, conducted primarily in the local language, engaged 77 participants from diverse roles, including CEOs, project managers, and HR managers, ensuring a balanced mix of strategic and operational perspectives. Participants evaluated each KPI, addressing its relevance, measurement methods, and required data, thereby aligning the framework with real-world needs.

In addition, three collaborative workshops were held in late 2024 with representatives from other EU projects, Advisory Board members, and Industry 5.0 experts. These workshops facilitated a deeper discussion on the framework’s applicability and supported its iterative refinement.

Framework Structure: Core and Scenario-Related KPIs

The analysis of these workshops resulted in the identification of a structured framework comprising two main categories of KPIs:

  • Company Policy Level KPIs: These assess the strategic alignment of organizational policies with Industry 5.0 principles. They are further categorized as:
    • Specific Policy KPIs, directly linked to the pillars of Industry 5.0.
    • Generic Policy KPIs, reflecting broader metrics present in other frameworks, such as ESG.
  • Company Outcome Level KPIs: These measure the tangible outcomes of policies, providing insights into operational performance and impact.

To ensure adaptability, the KPIs are divided into Core KPIs and Scenario-Related KPIs:

  • Core KPIs are universally applicable and represent the critical dimensions of Industry 5.0 principles, including technology adoption, training opportunities, and sustainability investments.
  • Scenario-Related KPIs address specific operational aspects that vary based on company size and sector, such as ergonomic design, waste management, and cybersecurity measures.

The Core KPIs have been carefully selected to represent the most critical dimensions of Industry 5.0 principles, ensuring their relevance across all application scenarios. These KPIs include: 

The Scenario-Related KPIs address specific operational aspects that vary based on organizational size and sector. These KPIs allow for deeper insights into areas critical to certain companies, providing a more nuanced assessment. For instance: 

  • Human-centricity scenario-related KPIs: These include metrics like job crafting, ergonomic design, and inclusivity program effectiveness, which vary in relevance based on organizational focus and workforce characteristics. 
  • Environmental sustainability scenario-related KPIs: These encompass measures such as energy efficiency, waste management, and water use, which are highly dependent on the industrial sector and the organization’s operational scale. 
  • Industrial resilience scenario-related KPIs: These include cybersecurity measures, local sourcing ratio, operational downtime and recovery times, which vary in importance based on the company’s reliance on digital infrastructure and the complexity of its supply chain. 

The decision to categorize these KPIs as scenario-related stems from their variability in applicability. Larger organizations with specialized operations may find these KPIs critical, while smaller firms might prioritize simpler metrics. Additionally, sectoral dynamics, such as regulatory requirements and industry-specific risks, further influence the relevance of these KPIs.

This categorization enables organizations to assess both their strategic alignment with Industry 5.0 principles and their operational maturity, ensuring flexibility for diverse industrial profiles.

Looking ahead: the vision of PROSPECTS 5.0

As the I5.AF enters its testing phase, its adaptability and modularity will be further validated across diverse industrial contexts. This iterative process aims to refine the framework, ensuring its relevance as a practical tool for organizations striving to align with Industry 5.0 principles. By focusing on human-centricity, environmental sustainability, and industrial resilience, the framework underscores the importance of ethical and sustainable industrial transformation. With its scalable design and commitment to inclusivity, the I5.AF not only facilitates benchmarking and assessment but also empowers organizations to navigate the complexities of Industry 5.0 with confidence and purpose.

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Authors: Giacomo Cantini, Anna Rita Graziani (UNIMORE)