Abstract

Although Industry 4.0 promotes organisational efficiency, it has ignored or misunderstood many prevailing concerns to drive operational performance in industrial operations. While the desired operational performance value of Industry 5.0 (I5.0) is well recognised, how the same can be delivered through the lens of its enablers has not been explored. The present study fills this knowledge gap by first identifying I5.0-oriented enablers that drive operational performance, then grouping them into legitimate categories, and then prioritising them, so organisations can focus on the critical enablers for operational performance. The enablers were first identified from the literature and then grouped into legitimate categories using content analysis of the literature. The enablers were then prioritised using grey relational analysis (GRA) and further validated using the best-worst method (BWM). The study also provides the technological, organisational, and environmental (TOE) framework of the identified enablers that facilitate the path to drive organisational sustainability. The study finds that management-related (MR) and finance and knowledge-related (FKR) barriers are key enablers that must be prioritised to realise operational excellence from the perspective of I5.0. The findings of the present study drive implications for practitioners by fostering a deeper understanding of enablers for driving operational performance in routine tasks. Furthermore, the TOE framework facilitates decision-makers by enhancing workforce readiness and fostering stakeholders' collaboration for achieving sustainable resilience and human-centric operations.

Keywords

Industry 5.0, Enablers, Operational Performance, Grey Relational Analysis, Best-Worst Method, Human-Centric System,

Metrics

Metrics Loading ...

References

  1. Ali, K., Johl, S.K. (2024). Driving sustainability in industry 5.0 through sociotechnical approach of quality management. Total Quality Management & Business Excellence, 35(13-14), 1567-1592. https://doi.org/10.1080/14783363.2024.2375303
  2. Aslam, F., Aimin, W., Li, M., Ur Rehman, K. (2020). Innovation in the era of IoT and industry 5.0: Absolute innovation management (AIM) framework. Information, 11(2), 124. https://doi.org/10.3390/info11020124
  3. Čater, T., Čater, B., Černe, M., Koman, M., Redek, T. (2021). Industry 4.0 technologies usage: motives and enablers. Journal of Manufacturing Technology Management, 32(9), 323-345. https://doi.org/10.1108/JMTM-01-2021-0026
  4. Cillo, V., Gregori, G.L., Daniele, L.M., Caputo, F., Bitbol-Saba, N. (2022). Rethinking companies’ culture through knowledge management lens during Industry 5.0 transition. Journal of Knowledge Management, 26(10), 2485-2498. https://doi.org/10.1108/JKM-09-2021-0718
  5. Dal Prete, A., Gandolla, M., Andreoni, G., Braghin, F. (2025). Low Back Exoskeletons in Industry 5.0: From Machines to Perceiving Co-Pilots—A State-of-the-Art Review. Sensors, 25(7), 1958. https://doi.org/10.3390/s25071958
  6. Fraga-Lamas, P., Fernández-Caramés, T.M., da Cruz, A.M.R., Lopes, S.I. (2024). An overview of blockchain for Industry 5.0: towards human-centric, sustainable and resilient applications. IEEE Access, IEEE, 12, 116162-116201. https://doi.org/10.1109/ACCESS.2024.3435374
  7. Ghobakhloo, M., Fathi, M., Okwir, S., Al-Emran, M., Ivanov, D. (2026). Adaptive social manufacturing: a human-centric, resilient, and sustainable framework for advancing Industry 5.0. International Journal of Production Research, 64(3), 1127-1160. https://doi.org/10.1080/00207543.2025.2559137
  8. Ghobakhloo, M., Iranmanesh, M., Morales, M.E., Nilashi, M., Amran, A. (2023). Actions and approaches for enabling Industry 5.0‐driven sustainable industrial transformation: A strategy roadmap. Corporate social responsibility and environmental management, 30(3), 1473-1494. https://doi.org/10.1002/csr.2431
  9. Ghobakhloo, M., Iranmanesh, M., Mubarak, M.F., Mubarik, M., Rejeb, A., Nilashi, M. (2022). Identifying industry 5.0 contributions to sustainable development: A strategy roadmap for delivering sustainability values. Sustainable Production and Consumption, 33, 716-737. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.spc.2022.08.003
  10. Horvat, D., Jäger, A., Lerch, C.M. (2025). Fostering innovation by complementing human competences and emerging technologies: an industry 5.0 perspective. International Journal of Production Research, 63(3), 1126-1149. https://doi.org/10.1080/00207543.2024.2372009
  11. Huang, S., Wang, B., Li, X., Zheng, P., Mourtzis, D., Wang, L. (2022). Industry 5.0 and Society 5.0—Comparison, complementation and co-evolution. Journal of manufacturing systems, 64, 424-428. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jmsy.2022.07.010
  12. Islam, M.T., Sepanloo, K., Woo, S., Woo, S.H., Son, Y.J. (2025). A review of the industry 4.0 to 5.0 transition: exploring the intersection, challenges, and opportunities of technology and human–machine collaboration. Machines, 13(4), 267. https://doi.org/10.3390/machines13040267
  13. Karnik, N., Bora, U., Bhadri, K., Kadambi, P., Dhatrak, P. (2022). A comprehensive study on current and future trends towards the characteristics and enablers of industry 4.0. Journal of Industrial Information Integration, 27, 100294. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jii.2021.100294
  14. Kaswan, M. S., Chaudhary, R., Rathi, R., Singh, M., Bonamigo, A. (2026) Mapping the lens of Industry 5.0 barriers for enriched sustainability: an Indian manufacturing perspective. International Journal of Industrial Engineering and Operations Management, 1-22. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJIEOM-09-2025-0205
  15. Kaswan, M.S., Kumar, R., Chaudhary, R. (2025). Industry 5.0 and Its Different Facets. In Industry 5.0 CRC Press, 1-4.
  16. Khan, S., Bhatti, G.A., Khan, M.J., Nawaz, M. (2026). Evaluating the critical factors of building information modeling implementation using ordinal priority approach and grey relational analysis. Quality & Quantity, 60(2), 4577-4594. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11135-025-02445-8
  17. Kumar, U., Kaswan, M.S., Kumar, R., Chaudhary, R., Garza-Reyes, J.A., Rathi, R., Joshi, R. (2024), A systematic review of Industry 5.0 from main aspects to the execution status. The TQM Journal, 36(6), 1526–1549. https://doi.org/10.1108/TQM-06-2023-0183
  18. Lawal, A.I., Ajeboriogbon, A.F., Onifade, M., Bada, S.O., Mulenga, F. (2026). A novel grey relational analysis-based committee of machine learning methods for enhanced prediction of coal calorific value. Fuel, 406 Part C, 137070. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fuel.2025.137070
  19. Lima, R.K.D., Heckler, W.F., Francisco, R., Barbosa, J.L.V. (2025). Integrating collaborative learning and advanced technology in industry 5.0: A systematic mapping study and taxonomy. International Journal of Human–Computer Interaction, 41(1), 707-722. https://doi.org/10.1080/10447318.2024.2321406
  20. Longo, F., Mirabelli, G., Nicoletti, L., Pellegrino, M., Solina, V., Talarico, S. (2026). Human-centric warehousing with XR technologies: Opportunities and research gaps for Industry 5.0. Procedia Computer Science, 277, 3835-3845. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.procs.2026.02.419
  21. Maddikunta, P.K.R., Pham, Q.V., Deepa, N., Dev, K., Gadekallu, T.R., Ruby, R., Liyanage, M. (2022). Industry 5.0: A survey on enabling technologies and potential applications. Journal of industrial information integration, 26, 100257. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jii.2021.100257
  22. Mohan, J., Kaswan, M.S., Rathi, R. (2025). Assessing enablers of Green Lean Six Sigma: lessons from Indian micro, small, and medium enterprises. International Journal of Six Sigma and Competitive Advantage, 15(3), 333-350. https://doi.org/10.1504/IJSSCA.2025.145632
  23. Mukherjee, A.A., Raj, A., Aggarwal, S. (2023). Identification of barriers and their mitigation strategies for industry 5.0 implementation in emerging economies. International Journal of Production Economics, 257, 108770. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijpe.2023.108770
  24. Olsson, A.K., Eriksson, K.M., Carlsson, L. (2025). Management toward Industry 5.0: a co-workership approach on digital transformation for future innovative manufacturing. European Journal of Innovation Management, 28(1), 65-84. https://doi.org/10.1108/EJIM-09-2023-0833
  25. Pan, Y., Huang, Z., Lev, B., Xu, L., Olson, D. (2026). A literature review on the artificial intelligence in manufacturing systems under industry 5.0. International Journal of Production Research, 64(12), 5120–5161. https://doi.org/10.1080/00207543.2026.2623537
  26. Psarommatis, F., May, G., Azamfirei, V. (2024). Zero defect manufacturing in 2024: a holistic literature review for bridging the gaps and forward outlook. International Journal of Production Research, 64(17), 7395-7431. https://doi.org/10.1080/00207543.2024.2388217
  27. Rahardjo, B., Wang, F.K., Lo, S.C., Chu, T.H. (2024). A sustainable innovation framework based on lean six sigma and industry 5.0. Arabian Journal for Science and Engineering, 49(5), 7625-7642. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13369-023-08565-3
  28. Rajesh, R. (2023). Industry 5.0: analyzing the challenges in implementation using grey influence analysis. Journal of Enterprise Information Management, 36(5), 1349-1371. https://doi.org/10.1108/JEIM-03-2023-0121
  29. Rathi, R., Vakharia, A., Kaswan, M.S. (2021). Grey relational analysis of Green Lean Six Sigma critical success factors for improved organisational performance. International Journal of Six Sigma and Competitive Advantage, 13(1-3), 55-75. https://doi.org/10.1504/IJSSCA.2021.120227
  30. Ribeiro, V.B., Muniz Jr, J., Mosconi, E., Nakano, D. (2025). Redefining digital competencies of managers in the Industry 5.0: evidence from the Brazilian automotive sector. International Journal of Production Research, 64(13), 5630-5655. https://doi.org/10.1080/00207543.2025.2562968
  31. Sharma, M., Sehrawat, R., Luthra, S., Daim, T., Bakry, D. (2022). Moving towards industry 5.0 in the pharmaceutical manufacturing sector: challenges and solutions for Germany. IEEE Transactions on Engineering Management, 71, 13757-13774. https://doi.org/10.1109/TEM.2022.3143466
  32. Sharma, S., Sharma, C., Batra, I., Malik, A., Kaswan, M.S., Du, D., Kumar, V. (2025). Navigating the frontiers of industry 5.0: predictive analysis using natural language processing. In Operations Research Forum, Cham: Springer International Publishing, 6(3), 93. https://doi.org/10.1007/s43069-025-00501-5
  33. Sheikh, R.A., Ahmed, I., Faqihi, A.Y.A., Shehawy, Y.M. (2025). Global perspectives on navigating Industry 5.0 knowledge: Achieving resilience, sustainability, and human-centric innovation in manufacturing. Journal of the Knowledge Economy, 16(5), 15997-16032. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13132-024-02498-4
  34. Singh, A., Kumar, N., Singh Kaswan, M., Kumar, V., Chaudhary, R. (2026) Industry 4.0 technologies and healthcare: a review of the current landscape and future prospects. International Journal of Industrial Engineering and Operations Management, 8(2), 111–130. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJIEOM-01-2025-0001
  35. Singh, C., Cropley, D.H., Dollard, M., Potter, R. (2026). Ready, Set, Industry 5.0: the role of organisational psychosocial safety climate, innovation capacity and attitudes towards change. Journal of Organizational Change Management, 39(2), 328-351. https://doi.org/10.1108/JOCM-10-2024-0596
  36. Tallat, R., Hawbani, A., Wang, X., Al-Dubai, A., Zhao, L., Liu, Z., Min, G., Zomaya, A.Y., Alsamhi, S.H. (2023). Navigating industry 5.0: A survey of key enabling technologies, trends, challenges, and opportunities. IEEE Communications Surveys & Tutorials, IEEE, 26(2), 1080-1126. https://doi.org/10.1109/COMST.2023.3329472
  37. Yadav, V., Kumar, V., Gahlot, P., Mittal, A., Kaswan, M.S., Garza-Reyes, J.A., Rathi, R., Antony, J., Kumar, A., Owad, A.A. (2024) Exploration and mitigation of green lean six sigma barriers: a higher education institutions perspective. The TQM Journal, 36(7), 2132–2153. https://doi.org/10.1108/TQM-03-2023-0069
  38. Yan, W.M., Chien, B.S., Li, C.H., Rashidi, S. (2026). Optimization of immersion cooling for lithium battery modules based on Taguchi method and grey relational analysis. International Journal of Thermal Sciences, 227, 110870. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijthermalsci.2026.110870