Industry 5.0 and opportunities for promoting supply chain sustainability: A study of the renewable energy industry
Behzad Masoomi, Iman Ghasemian Sahebi, Anil Kumar, Morteza Ghobakhloo, Mohammad Iranmanesh
Abstract
The rapid adoption of Industry 4.0 technologies has led to substantial socio-industrial shifts, with impacts reaching into societal frameworks such as labor markets and environmental sustainability practices. In response, the fifth industrial revolution integrates human-centered approaches within sustainable frameworks, promoting both environmental and social welfare in industrial transformations. Industry 5.0 added value, such as increased human-machine collaboration and societal focus, and its role in addressing Industry 4.0's limitations in sustainable practices. This study aims to analysis the facilitators of Industry 5.0, examining their interrelationships to establish a framework for achieving sustainability in the renewable energy sector. The research employs a three-phase decision-making model, incorporating Fuzzy-Delphi Method (FDM), Best-Worst Method (BWM), and Decision Making Trial and Evaluation Laboratory (DEMATEL) approach. A subsequent sensitivity analysis is conducted to validate the solution's robustness. The study incorporates expert opinions and literature reviews to investigate eleven sustainability-promoting facilitators within the renewable energy industry, highlighting the substantial impact of specific facilitators. Examples of such facilitators include human–machine collaboration, digital and integrated process capabilities, smart manufacturing via exoskeletons, Industry 5.0 policies supporting supply chain sustainability through workforce empowerment, and mixed reality. The findings contribute novel insights into the realm of Industry 5.0, bolstering environmental and societal sustainability capacities within supply chains. Notably, this research marks the inaugural examination of environmental and societal sustainability drivers in Industry 5.0 era. • A hybrid FDM-BWM-DEMATEL framework identifies key Industry 5.0 facilitators for RE supply chains. • Human-machine collaboration and Industry 5.0 policies lead to enhancing supply chain sustainability. • Sensitivity analysis confirms the stability and robustness of prioritized Industry 5.0 facilitators. • The study bridges Industry 5.0 principles with practical and sustainable supply chain solutions. • Methodology offers replicable insights for sustainable technology adoption in energy sectors.