The Young Manufacturing Leaders (YML) network is a global community of young people dedicated to empowering youth to shape the sustainable development of industry and society. Led by the World Manufacturing Foundation and supported by' EIT Manufacturing.
Founded in 2020, the YML Network aims to promote the manufacturing sector among younger generations and bridge the gap between youth and the industry. This community includes students, PhD candidates, and young professionals who act as ambassadors for innovative, sustainable manufacturing practices.
Marta Pinzone from Politecnico di Milano, a member of Industry 4.h Chair, has played an active role in this initiative. This year, a new hub was established at Grenoble INP – Génie industriel, UGA with Andreas Riel, chairholder of the Industry 4.h Chair, leading the activities for this branch and highlighting the appeal of the new era of Industry 5.0 for the youth of tomorrow, who will play a pivotal role in shaping the future of the industry.
YML collaborates with a group of international partners, including the MADE Competence Center (Italy), Czech Technical University in Prague (Czech Republic), Chalmers University (Sweden), IMH Campus (Spain), University College Dublin (Ireland), University of Porto (Portugal), the Federation of Estonian Engineering Industry (Estonia), and the Laboratory for Manufacturing Systems and Automation (Greece).
On October 15, YML organized the YML Summit in Milan, where members of the Industry 4.0 Chair actively participated, with a special contribution from the Belgian team represented by Anastassiya Zabudkina on the panel titled “Skills Development & Technology Leverage for Human-Centred Manufacturing.”
The panel delved into the synergy between skills development and technological innovation in human-centred manufacturing. Discussions highlighted the importance of integrating advanced technologies—such as exoskeletons, IoT, Big Data, and AI—not only to boost productivity but also to enhance worker well-being. Key challenges were addressed, including finding a balance between standard and customized technological solutions, overcoming regulatory barriers, and effectively demonstrating technology's benefits to secure decision-maker support.
The transformative impact of emerging technologies on manufacturing processes and organizational culture was a focal point, as was the critical role of involving workers as active participants in these changes. The panel also emphasized the need for long-term sustainability—both environmental and social—while ensuring that technology adoption aligns with practical, operational needs and addresses real-world challenges.
In conclusion, the panelists underscored that a dual focus on skills development and strategic technology adoption is crucial for fostering a forward-looking, human-centred manufacturing environment—a core mission of the Industry 4.0 Chair.
