Industrial Engineering in the Age of Industry 5.0: Bridging Technology, Humanity, and Sustainability

The transition from Industry 4.0 to Industry 5.0 marks a paradigm shift from automation and digitalization toward a human-centric, sustainable, and resilient industrial ecosystem. This review paper explores the evolving role of <i>Industrial Engineering (IE)</i> within the framework of <i>Industry 5.0</i>, emphasizing the integration of advanced technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI), the Internet of Things (IoT), robotics, digital twins, and additive manufacturing with human intelligence and creativity. Unlike its predecessor, which primarily focused on efficiency and productivity through automation, Industry 5.0 aims to <i>restore the human touch in manufacturing</i>, ensuring that technology augments not replaces human capabilities. The paper synthesizes recent scholarly contributions and industrial case studies to identify how Industry 5.0 redefines traditional IE domains including <i>operations optimization, production planning, quality control, ergonomics, and supply chain management</i>. Furthermore, it discusses the alignment of Industry 5.0 with global sustainability goals, circular economy principles, and socio-technical resilience. The review highlights how Industrial Engineers act as key enablers in designing <i>human</i><i>-</i><i>machine symbiotic systems</i>, optimizing smart factories, and ensuring ethical and sustainable deployment of emerging technologies. Finally, the paper outlines research gaps and future directions, advocating for interdisciplinary frameworks that combine <i>engineering, data science, and human factors</i> to achieve a more inclusive and adaptive industrial future. By bridging technology with humanity, Industry 5.0 offers Industrial Engineering a renewed relevance in shaping the factories of tomorrow intelligent, empathetic, and sustainable.