SHAPE-5 Smart System Architectures for Industry 5.0: A Human-Centred Approach to IoT Integration to Support Worker Experience and Process Efficiency

​​The manufacturing sector is undergoing a significant transformation, driven by the proliferation of smart technologies and the emergence of more adaptive, interconnected production systems. Central to this shift is the conceptual evolution from Industry 4.0 characterised by automation, data integration, and cyber-physical systems (Aneiba et al, 2018), towards Industry 5.0, which prioritises human-centric innovation, meaningful collaboration between humans and machines, and the sustainable integration of technology into daily operational practices (Xu et al, 2021). In this paradigm, technological advancement cannot be seen in isolation: systems must also be intuitive, adaptable, and grounded in the practical realities of those interacting with them. 

​The shift toward Industry 5.0 emphasises human-centric innovation, integrating smart technologies with worker well-being, collaboration, improved decision-making and appropriation. As outlined in Innovate UK’s strategic priorities and the Made Smarter initiative, digital adoption, especially among SMES, is vital for boosting productivity and economic resilience. However, successful implementation relies on systems that workers can trust, understand, and adopt. This project proposes the development of SHAPE-5: Smart Human-centred Architectures for Process Efficiency. By combining IoT, adaptive interfaces, and HCI design, SHAPE-5 aims to create intelligent, inclusive systems that empower workers, support SME innovation, and advance the UK’s goals for sustainable, people-focused industrial growth. 

​​This PhD aims to develop a new approach for designing and implementing human-centred system architectures for industrial environments, placing human experience and human-machine collaboration at the core of technical design (Cervantes-Solis and Baber, 2017). It focuses on moving beyond automation-focused paradigms and instead designing Smart Human-centred Architectures for Process Efficiency (SHAPE-5), aligned with the guiding principles of Industry 5.0.  

​The project will investigate how intelligent systems rooted in Internet of Things (IoT) technologies and human-centred design guidelines can improve effective, seamless collaboration between human operators and automated systems while enhancing well-being, decision-making, autonomy, and productivity on the factory floor. It will address the transition from automation-centric systems to collaborative, human-oriented infrastructures. The central premise is that technological advancement in the industrial sector must increase productivity and support workers' cognitive, physical, and emotional needs in complex operational environments. 

• ​​Responding to the Needs of Industry 5.0: Current systems often prioritise technical optimisation at the expense of user experience. This research will address that imbalance by proposing architectures that integrate technological sophistication with genuine human-centric values. 
• ​Worker Empowerment and System Legitimacy: A system that adapts to and supports its human users is more likely to be adopted and retained. SHAPE-5 aims to enhance both worker productivity and autonomy, generating new models for sustainable human-machine partnerships. 
• ​Interdisciplinary Innovation: The proposed work intersects industrial systems engineering, human-computer interaction, cognitive ergonomics, and organisational behaviour. It will encourage cross-disciplinary approaches to future system design, bridging technical and humanistic disciplines. 
• ​Practical Impact and Scalability: Outcomes of this research can be directly applied to modern manufacturing, logistics, and production environments. By focusing on real-time adaptation, usability, and IoT integration, SHAPE-5 will offer a scalable model suitable for diverse industrial contexts. 
• ​Performance: Develop qualitative and quantitative performance metrics to evaluate the effectiveness of SHAPE-5 in live or simulated industrial settings, capturing improvements in process efficiency and user satisfaction. 
• Empirical Contribution to Design Practice: The research will generate empirical insights into system use and worker engagement, contributing to design best practices for future smart environments that are both efficient and humane. 

By advancing the understanding and implementation of human-centred technologies in industrial contexts, this project aims to establish SHAPE-5 as a benchmark for Industry 5.0-ready system design, supporting environments in which technology and the human workforce are co-dependent, responsive, and mutually beneficial. 

Person Specification:

This PhD studentship aims to develop intelligent, inclusive system architectures that prioritise both operational efficiency and human well-being. Drawing on Internet of Things (IoT) technologies, adaptive interfaces, and human-computer interaction (HCI) principles, the project seeks to reshape how smart systems are designed, evaluated, and implemented in industrial settings—particularly within SMEs.  

The successful candidate will play a leading role in investigating how smart technologies can support sustainable productivity, enhance worker autonomy, and create responsive human-machine partnerships.