Industry 5.0 in aircraft production and MRO: challenges and opportunities

Abstract

Globally interconnecting machines, processes, and resources driven by exploring and advancing new technologies definedIndustry 4.0 (I4.0), resulting in, e.g., Cyber-Physical Production Systems (CPPS). The aircraft industry particularly struggledwith transforming production and Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul (MRO) processes, replacing humans with machinesand automating as well as digitalizing significant parts of their value- and non-value-adding activities. However, in theface of current social and environmental challenges, future industries will need to shift from purely technology-driven tovalue-driven, working sustainably with resources, including human capital. Together, these approaches constitute the ideaof Industry 5.0 (I5.0). On the one hand, the aviation industry faces the challenge that even I4.0 concepts and technologiesare not yet fully exploited or implemented. On the other hand, due to the specific characteristics of aircraft production andMRO as well as the environmental impact of the product, a tremendous potential arises regarding placing human well-beingback into the center of adding value and decreasing environmental footprint while building an industry that is resilient andfortified against disruptions of this era. In line with the I5.0 terminology, in this work, we outline the challenges and oppor-tunities of integrating I5.0 principles into the aircraft production and MRO industries, focusing specifically on the scope ofselected use cases.

(PDF) Industry 5.0 in aircraft production and MRO: challenges and opportunities. Available from: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/390530552_Industry_50_in_aircraft_production_and_MRO_challenges_and_opportunities [accessed Apr 11 2025].