University of Cincinnati Launching New Industry 4.0/5.0 Institute

Most of our readers are familiar with Industry 4.0 -- the ‘fourth industrial revolution’ which is integrating information and communications technology into every aspect of industrial production and which is transforming every aspect of manufacturing operations.  We may be less familiar with Industry 5.0, which brings human elements to the center of Industry 4.0 efforts including ethical and legal questions; physical and mental health; and issues like Human/Robot Collaboration and even Human/Machine Symbiosis.  We are only now beginning to grasp the enormity of these changes and how to reap the benefits (and avoid the downsides).  That’s why the University of Cincinnati is launching its new Industry 4.0/5.0 Institute – to provide a platform for industry, academics, and students to collaborate in research that will: 

• Produce students conversant in Industry 4.0/5.0 technologies as they enter the workplace 
• Support companies in developing and successfully deploying Industry 4.0/5.0 technologies
• Assist academics in identifying new avenues of research to advance knowledge 

To this end UC hosted a day-long workshop on Friday March 18, 2022 to invite industry to join in the effort.  Dean of UC’s College of Engineering and Applied Science (CEAS) Dr. John Weidner pointed out that UC’s launch of cooperative education programs as “Industry 2.0” (the mechanization of manufacturing) was transforming American manufacturing ensured Cincinnati’s role as a center of industry, and said that this launch could do the same for our place in the global economy.  In his keynote address, Steven Bashada (previously of Siemens and now CEO of his own software consulting company) discussed several aspects of Industry 4.0/5.0, including this gem: “Industry 4.0/5.0 highlights the importance of research and innovation to support industry in its long-term service to humanity within planetary boundaries.” 

There followed a series of presentations where UC professors and industry leaders underscored the impact of past and ongoing collaborations in areas ranging from data analytics and visualization to automation to supply chain resilience and even to the industrial applications of unmanned aerial vehicles.   After lunch there was also a series of breakout sessions where attendees discussed important issues such as:  

• Ethics and Workforce Retention 
• Educating the Workforce 
• Human System Integration 
• Sustainability and Environment 
• Roadmapping Your Business: Digital Transformation 
• Roadmapping Your Business: Physical Integration 

The new institute will operate on a membership model with Full Members and Associate Members able to collaborate in identifying and prioritizing areas for research as well as sharing in the intellectual property generated.  Members will also have unique access to UC faculty, students and co-op staff as well as access to customized research and training opportunities.  (There are even membership discounts available for fast movers!)   

Whether you are a manufacturer or a service provider advising or supporting manufacturers that are implementing Industry 4.0/5.0 initiatives – and especially a smaller organization without resources to conduct such research internally – this new Institute is a remarkable resource.  To learn more visit Industry 4.0/5.0 Institute | University Of Cincinnati (uc.edu) or contact the EACC!