Industry 6.0: How the Next Industrial Revolution Will Reshape Manufacturing

Summary

While the manufacturing sector continues to explore and integrate practices from industry 5.0, the 6th industrial revolution is already fast approaching.  

Predicted to take shape around 2050, industry 6.0 will build on the principles of industry 5.0, incorporating technologies such as AI, quantum computing, advanced robotics and big data analytics into the manufacturing process. This next revolution presents a future where manufacturing is driven primarily by intelligence, with little human intervention on the factory floor. 
 
However, it will also require human oversight, careful planning and effective training in order to overcome challenges around sustainability, workforce transitions, auditing and AI transparency. Let’s take a closer look at what the manufacturing industry can expect as the 6th industrial revolution unfolds. 

Hyperautomation and the altering role of workers

With the approach of industry 6.0, the role of factory workers is likely to evolve rather than disappear. As hyper-automation becomes the new norm, machines will handle the majority of repetitive, labor-intensive and high-precision tasks. Workers will need to master new skill sets, including systems understanding and workflow management, as well as drawing on critical thinking, emotional intelligence and creative problem-solving skills in their day-to-day work. 

Staff who may have focused entirely on mechanical equipment maintenance and management will be required to take on hybrid roles where they oversee AI-driven production systems, ensuring collaboration between humans, robots and autonomous production lines. 

Manufacturers should prepare to face a variety of obstacles when retraining employees, as evolving systems become ever more complex and difficult to understand. Without effective training on both theoretical as well as practical skills, staff and manufacturers are likely to fall behind rapidly.

For smaller businesses, adapting to the changing roles of factory workers and machines may be particularly challenging. To stay competitive, these businesses will need to consider remaining small and dedicated to niche areas or forming partnerships with larger companies to manage risks effectively. 

Driving sustainability for truly responsible factories

Sustainability is predicted to be a core pillar of Industry 6.0. This will include a focus on more "responsible factories" predicated on a circular economy where resources are reused, recycled and regenerated. 
 
As AI and Large Language Models (LLMs) become increasingly efficient and use more power, addressing AI’s massive carbon footprint will become paramount. Reporting, monitoring and measuring will need to focus on cutting through greenwashing efforts to gather real, accurate data. 
 
At present, many manufacturers claim they’re reducing carbon emissions by using electric furnaces, but this power is still produced by burning fossil fuels significantly. Industry 6.0 must prioritize transparency in order to hold manufacturers accountable, putting increasing pressure on them to make sustainable long-term choices throughout their supply chains and operational processes. 
 
What’s more, businesses should refrain from relying solely on AI for Environmental and Social Governance (ESG) reporting and monitoring. Instead, workers should be empowered to analyse and interpret such data themselves in order to make strategic and informed decisions around sustainability. 

Demanding greater synergy between man and machine

Even as automated manufacturing processes become almost completely self-sufficient, human oversight and involvement will remain indispensable. We need to keep in mind that AI can fail, and in the worst case scenario, its failures could have serious, even fatal, consequences for factory staff. 
 
To keep humans safe as we move into an age of hyperautomation, effective workforce training and synergy between man and machine are more crucial than ever. Training AI models should be regarded as an ever-evolving process, with manufacturers and developers running simulations and tests on an ongoing basis to ensure their systems remain resilient. 
 
Cyber security should also remain top of mind, as humans are unlikely to trust robots and machines moving around them in factory settings if cyber attacks are highly probable, and systems can be easily compromised. Digital replicas of the manufacturing environment known as digital twins, which mirror a factory digitally, are one such way in which risks and failures can be predicted and prevented.

The importance of AI auditing for a transparent future

AI auditing will be increasingly important as industry 6.0 edges nearer, given that siloed data and a lack of transparency tend to foster distrust between players. Organizations will be required to improve their ability to trace back data sources and exchanges in order to make these available for monitoring and auditing. 
 
We can also expect to encounter more challenges regarding AI regulation and standardization as algorithms become more complex. At present, the EU is clamping down on AI with restrictions. However, in the US, there’s still a reluctance to impinge on innovation that could boost the economy, especially with President Trump’s plans to revive manufacturing in the country. 
 
As long as regulatory frameworks remain fragmented, global AI development will continue to face these kinds of inconsistencies, leading to challenges in cross-border collaboration and compliance, as well as legal grey areas. 
 
Overall, the key to a resilient and sustainable manufacturing sector in the 6th industrial revolution will hinge on the ongoing collaboration between humans across states and borders, as well as between humans and machines in order to create a sustainable, secure, transparent and accountable system.