Slow Manufacturing: Its Conceptualisation, Application and Research Agenda

The manufacturing paradigm is transitioning from Industry 4.0 to Industry 5.0. While Industry 4.0 emphasised IoT technologies to enhance flexibility and efficiency, Industry 5.0 seeks to integrate these advancements with human-centric, sustainable, and resilient approaches. This paper introduces the concept of slow manufacturing, comprising three core elements rooted in craftsmanship, and explores its alignment with the goals of Industry 5.0. Practical and research-based examples from industrialised nations are presented, followed by an analysis of how these cases may be adapted for developing countries. A research agenda is then proposed and structured around the foundational elements of slow manufacturing. This approach suggests that adopting slowness in manufacturing can offer a viable pathway to realising the human-centred ideals of Industry 5.0.