JOIN5.0 - International visiting professor Jorge Muniz Junior

The advent of Industry 4.0 (I4.0) characterized by novel smart technologies and the emerging paradigm of Industry 5.0 (I5.0), emphasizing sustainability, human-centric and resilience, presents transformative opportunities for the manufacturing sector. However, these advances pose significant challenges, including the integration and implementation of new technologies, workforce adaptation, need for upskilling and reskilling, and change management. Addressing these multifaceted challenges necessitates inter- and transdisciplinary research approaches that integrate innovation with a strong human-centric focus. Such efforts are critical to realizing the full potential of I5.0 to build smarter, more sustainable, and inclusive manufacturing systems. Manufacturing companies today face increasingly complex challenges such as smart digitalization and the pursuit of social sustainability. These issues span multiple fields and cannot be effectively addressed within the confines of a single discipline. Interdisciplinary efforts, particularly the integration within Primus of Industrial Work-Integrated Learning with Production Systems are essential to develop holistic solutions. Therefore, initiatives that support partner companies across all organizational levels, from operators to executive management, through continued learning, and applied knowledge exchange, are needed.

The international visiting professor brings recognized expertise in I5.0, with specific focus on social systems in future manufacturing and knowledge management within production systems. Prof. Muniz Junior’s contribution can significantly enhance the Primus research environment by strengthening its national and international profile and positioning. The synergistic integration of production systems and industrial work-integrated learning aligns with strategic objectives to foster industrial sustainable development and growth.  Prof. Jorge Muniz Junior is today working as full professor at Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP), Sao Paulo, Brazil. As such, Prof. Muniz Junior demonstrates strong and extensive academic competence in the fields of I5.0 and I4.0, with a particular focus on sustainable, human-centric, and socially responsible manufacturing systems. His work is characterized by inter- and transdisciplinary approaches, integrating insights from engineering, social sciences, and management.