Industry 4.0 and the human asset: skills 4.0

In 2011, the world got to witness the birth of the fourth industrial revolution otherwise known as Industry 4.0 (I4.0). Being centralized on advanced technologies introduction, it could be considered as a systemic transformation in manufacturing and economy which is also influencing society, governance, and human identity. Within this context, the issue of the impact of such revolution on the human asset and whether a need for a skill adaptation is essential, has been raised and has been the center of discussion of the research world, as well as the managerial one. The article aims at mapping the challenges that I4.0 has imposed on the manufacturing world with a focus on the human asset, providing a comprehensive set of hard and soft skills to be acquired amid this new paradigm. Design /methodology/approach: The research is based on a systematic literature review (SLR) of peer-reviewed articles discussing the themes of I4.0 and skills. The papers used in the SLR follow the timeline of 2011 onward, the year the term “Industry 4.0” was brought to light, up until and including the year 2020. Findings: The expected outcome of the study is a list of needed human skills in the era of I4.0. Research limitations: The research relies on the Scopus database, being the most exhaustive one, and the review is based on qualitative analysis. Practical implications: The results of the study could help practitioners understanding which skills are needed to adapt to I4.0 requirements and direct their efforts into acquiring such skills, thus ensuring a solid implementation of I4.0 technologies.