Transforming Manufacturing from Industry 4.0 to Industry 6.0: A Comprehensive Review, Gap Analysis, and Strategic Framework
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.55578/isgm.2508.003Keywords:
Industry 4.0, Industry 5.0, Industry 6.0, Conscious Manufacturing, Circular Economy, Resilient Systems, Modern Manufacturing, Continuous ImprovementAbstract
Industry 6.0 represents a pivotal advancement in the evolution of manufacturing—surpassing the automation and cyber-physical integration of Industry 4.0 and the human-centric ethos of Industry 5.0. It is founded on the principles of consciousness, circularity, and resilience, positioning manufacturing as a catalyst for human flourishing, ecological regeneration, and adaptive intelligence. This study offers a comprehensive review of more than 90 peer-reviewed publications that explore the transition from Industry 4.0 to 6.0, synthesizing key conceptual foundations, enabling technologies, and strategic imperatives. It proposes a strategic framework for implementing Industry 6.0, anchored in core principles of conscious intelligence, ethical design, and global equity. The framework is organized around five strategic pillars: technological convergence, ethical governance, inclusive transformation, organizational agility, and sustainability. These are supported by cross-cutting enablers such as innovation ecosystems, human-centric competencies, and coherent policy frameworks. The study further presents a phased roadmap for implementation, outlines expected outcomes—including empathetic artificial intelligence and regenerative industrial systems—and illustrates real-world applicability through forward-looking scenarios. Together, these elements provide a visionary yet actionable blueprint for policymakers, industry leaders, and researchers to co-create ethical, resilient, and sustainable industrial futures guided by moral intelligence, empathy, and planetary stewardship.
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