How can we prepare people who have never worked in the industrial sector for the jobs of tomorrow? This question lies at the heart of today’s industrial transformations. As companies accelerate their transition to Industry 5.0, skill requirements are changing rapidly, and training organizations must develop new approaches to support people who are distant from the labor market. This is precisely the focus of the work conducted by the research team of the ' Industry 4.h Chair, which has just been published in theInternational Journal of Training and Development, a leading international scientific journal published by Wiley.
This publication represents a significant scientific recognition of the work carried out within the ' Industry 4.h Chair, supported by the Grenoble INP Foundation through a grant from the Caterpillar FoundationIt highlights a bold ambition: to make Industry 5.0 a more human, more inclusive, and more accessible model.
An Industry of the Future Centered on People
While Industry 4.0 has profoundly transformed factories through digitization, automation, and artificial intelligence, Industry 5.0 introduces a new dimension: putting people back at the heart of production systems. This vision is based on three complementary pillars: a human-centered approach, environmental sustainability, and organizational resilience.
In this context, the issue of training becomes essential. Companies need not only engineers and technicians, but also operators capable of interacting with connected production environments, collaborative robots, augmented reality tools, and digital production control systems. However, few programs today are designed to support individuals without prior industrial experience.
To address this challenge, researchers developed and tested a new educational model based on the Learning Factory concept.
A training facility where learning happens through hands-on experience
The project was carried out in partnership with' UDIMEC’s Isère Training Center at a vocational training center serving individuals undergoing career transition or seeking employment. Nine participants with diverse backgrounds took part in an experimental program designed to prepare them for future careers as assembly line operators in an Industry 5.0 environment.
The training program is based on a Learning Factory, an educational environment that replicates the real-world conditions of a smart factory. There, trainees gain hands-on experience with collaborative robots, automated material-handling systems, virtual and augmented reality technologies, autonomous mobile robots, and digital production management tools.
The goal is to promote experiential learning. Participants don’t just observe the technologies—they work with them, collaborate with them, and use them to solve problems similar to those encountered in the industry.
Virtual Reality, Collaborative Challenges, and Simulations
For two days, participants were immersed in various learning environments. The program alternated between exploratory sessions, virtual reality experiences, technology demonstrations, group discussions, and operational simulations.
Three main challenges shaped the experience:
- identify the technologies used in the educational facility and understand their applications;
- use augmented reality to access technical information at workstations;
- fulfill a customer order by organizing collaborative production on a connected assembly line.
This approach combines knowledge acquisition, the development of technical skills, and the strengthening of behavioral skills such as communication, teamwork, and adapting to change.
Encouraging results
The results of this pilot study show positive trends across several assessed dimensions: understanding of concepts related to Industry 5.0, development of operational skills, and participant satisfaction.
In particular, the learners demonstrated a good understanding of the interactions between digital technologies and production activities. The immersive activities and role-playing exercises were especially appreciated for their practical and engaging nature. The challenge of managing a customer order in a real-world environment was identified as the most useful exercise for promoting learning.
Beyond the educational outcomes, this pilot project demonstrates that it is possible to effectively guide people with no industrial experience toward discovering the jobs of the future. The researchers thus highlight the role that vocational training centers can play in reducing inequalities in access to employment and in supporting industrial transitions.
Research for Societal Impact
This publication fully illustrates the ambition of the ' Industry 4.h Chair to highlight the importance of people in industrial transformations and to help build a more responsible and inclusive industry.
It also demonstrates the Grenoble INP Foundation ’s ability to bring together donors, researchers, and socio-economic partners around projects that have a significant impact on society. The support provided for initiatives that combine scientific excellence, educational innovation, and career readiness directly aligns with the Foundation’s strategic priorities in the areas of research, innovation, and social impact.
Through this international publication, the ' Industry 4.h Chair demonstrates that a different vision of industry is possible: an industry where technology serves both women and men, where innovation promotes inclusion, and where training becomes an essential tool for developing the skills of tomorrow.
