Industry 4.0

Moniz, António B., Marta Candeias, and Nuno Boavida. "Digitalisation from logistics to assembly lines: applications in the Portuguese automotive sector." Int. J. Automotive Technology and Management 25 (2025): 274-296. Abstract2025_ijatm-227169_ppv.pdf
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The digitalisation of logistics and assembly lines in the Portuguese automotive sector is reshaping manufacturing processes, work organisation and competence requirements. The research aims to assess the challenges and opportunities associated with these technological changes and their impact on workforce skills and organisational structures. Findings suggest that digitalisation is progressing unevenly across logistics and production, with logistics leading in automation while production struggles with legacy systems and high costs. The shift to alternative engines supports digitalisation, but significant workforce skill gaps in AI and digital systems remain a challenge. Companies are implementing internal training, yet outdated vocational programs fail to address Industry 4.0 needs. Rather than full automation, digitalisation is fostering new human-machine collaboration, requiring cooperation between AI specialists, managers, and workers. To ensure success, policymakers and industry leaders must prioritise workforce reskilling and align digital strategies with labour market realities.

Moniz, António B. "From Industry 4.0 Onward: Is There a Need for “Industry 6.0”?" In From Industry 4.0 to Industry 6.0, edited by Carolina Machado and Paulo J. Davim, 1-20. Hoboken: Wiley, 2025. Abstractfrom_industry_4.0_to_industry_6.0.pdf

The process of industrialization – as a sustained trend in history and developing new socio-economic concepts – presuposes higher rates of growth of the economy and a structural change. It is on this basis diverse concepts of industrial revolutions have been accepted. These concepts have been coherent to reveal singular developments. Recently, the accepted concept of Industry 4.0 (i4.0) has shown some limitations regarding the need to develop automation technology in an anthropocentric orientation. This is why Industry 5.0 has two orientations: either the experiences that adopt this concept seek solutions to adapt the human factor to the features of the technology or, knowing the social and organizational requirements, look for solutions to develop this technology in accordance with these requirements. The debate is still developing. There is not yet conceptual maturity to propose a new topic that would be based in a new eventual structural change observed like a possible “Industry 6.0” era. Most arguments for an Industry 6.0 are still those which have been discussed for Industry 4.0, since they are mostly based on eventual not yet ready developments of technology. That is why we should continue the debate on the late developments of industrialization and its social and economic conditions.

Candeias, Marta, and António B. Moniz. "Public policies for Industry 4.0: some lessons from the Portuguese case." International Journal of Automotive Technology and Management 24 (2024): 144-168. Abstractcover.jpgWebsite

In Portugal, digital transition was structured with national public policies since 2003. In 2017, initiatives for the adoption of Industry 4.0 concepts are implemented in Portugal. We analysed the diffusion and implementation of these technologies, in Portugal. Some questions were raised: has the interplay between public policies, state agencies and industrial relations players in the process been articulated, as in Germany? What have been the effects of these technologies on workers and organisations? Are the public initiatives in place enough or more is needed? Qualitative and quantitative approaches were used to collect evidence on the main features and constraints of a public policy for Industry 4.0, based on the case study of the automotive sector in Portugal. Findings suggest the need to balance regulatory policies on data related risks, and investment policies towards education, training and organisational innovation are needed to complement technology development and adoption support.

iMET: Innovating social dialogue and collective bargaining toward artificial intelligence in the METAL Industries

April 9, 2024

DG Emp, European Commission

Nova University of Lisbon

CICS.NOVA

2024-2026

Marta Candeias

PhD on TA / CICS.NOVA, IST-ID, ISCSP-UL

Metalworkers 4.0

May 26, 2020

Metalworkers 4.0 – high skills of employees as a measure for high adaptability of enterprises to technological changes.

Project co-financed by the European Union.

Grant agreement number: UDA-POWR.04.03.00-00-0117/18-00

webpage: https://metalowcy.eu/en/project/

Sustainable Human Resource Management in the Context of Emerging Technologies, ISM Lithuania

March 5, 2018

Emerging technologies (ET) in the context of Industry 4.0, such as Robotics, Cyber Physical Systems, etc. will provide tremendous shifts with regard to working processes, e.g. increasing human-robot-interactions and similar technological advancements. However, in the debate about the possibilities of ET, their technical norms and standards, one of the most central aspects – the effects on employees, organizations, and work structures – has been often neglected. We still lack knowledge about the deeper implications of the ET: How ET will change work design in organizations?

Sociologia das Novas Tecnologias de Informação

Semester: 
Fall
Offered: 
2022
SNTI

Knowledge of the basic principles of the relation Technology and Society

Capacity of analysis on the Information and Knowledge Society

Information about approaches on technology and production systems, on working conditions and job design in automated environments

Knowledge of issues around conflict negotiation and  agreements, emergence of new vocational profiles in the information society, and of the concept of Industry 4.0.