What role for humans in complex organizations? Sometimes marginalized, sometimes empowered, the human factor is constantly being reexamined in our shift toward Industry and Society 5.0.
The CREAM5.0 project, led by the Department of Machine Design and Production Engineering at the University of Mons (UMONS), aims to foster international collaboration in advanced manufacturing by developing joint educational programs and research initiatives centered on Industry 5.0. It places particular emphasis on the social and human aspects that evolve alongside the increasing integration of cyber-physical systems in industrial and service processes.
This initiative is supported by the T.I.M.E. association (Top International Managers in Engineering), a network of over 50 leading engineering institutions worldwide committed to promoting international collaboration and double degree programs.
Within the project, T.I.M.E. member universities — including Doshisha University, Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, and Centrale Casablanca — will work together to explore innovative approaches to integrate Asset Management 5.0 (AM5.0) into engineering education. This includes not only technical training but also addressing broader societal, psychological, and ergonomic concerns surrounding the role of engineers in tomorrow’s industries.
As defined by the European Commission, “Industry 5.0 complements the existing Industry 4.0 paradigm by highlighting research and innovation as drivers for a transition to a sustainable, human-centric and resilient industry…”.
While engineering education has incorporated the environmental and technological ambitions of Industry 4.0, few efforts have tackled the human and societal dimensions of innovation — including how we design, produce, and interact with services and technologies. AM5.0 requires a truly interdisciplinary mindset, drawing from sociology, workplace psychology, sustainability, and ergonomics — fields traditionally considered outside the scope of engineering.
Students must now be equipped with new mindsets: ecodesign, systems thinking, and the capacity to imagine future-oriented, multicultural solutions. Understanding regional and cultural perceptions is essential in this process, as industries evolve within diverse global contexts.
Local contact UMONS: Prof. Pierre Dehombreux and Dr Lucas Equeter