From Industry 4.0 to Industry 5.0: Future Perspectives for Work and Research
Prof. Alejandro G. Frank from the Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul (Brazil) to give two lectures at Chemnitz University of Technology on October 21, 2026
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Prof. Alejandro G. Frank conducts research in the fields of digital transformation, Industry 4.0, and operations management at the Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul in Brazil. Photo: NEO/UFRGS
Internationally renowned researcher Dr. Alejandro G. Frank from the Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS) in Brazil has accepted an invitation from the Chair of Factory Planning and Intralogistics and will visit Chemnitz University of Technology in October. During his one-week visit, Dr. Frank will deliver two complementary lectures in English on October 21, linking the future of industrial work with the future of research in the field of operations management.
"As *Homo faber*, humans not only create technology but are also profoundly influenced by it. Industrial revolutions have shaped societies and our planet. Whether this is for better or worse ultimately depends on how we shape the interaction between humans and new technology. It is therefore a pleasure to welcome Prof. Frank to our chair," emphasizes Prof. Matthias Thürer, holder of the Chair of Factory Planning and Intralogistics.
Extensive expertise in digital work and empirical research
In his lecture titled "Integration of digital technologies and work: main advances, challenges and future perspective", Dr. Frank will discuss how over a decade of research into Industry 4.0 has transformed our understanding of technology and work, why the emerging debate on Industry 5.0 increasingly focuses on human-centric production, and the challenges researchers and companies still face in designing digitally supported work environments.
In his lecture titled "What makes a paper relevant for publication at IJPE? Lessons learned from the empirical research department" the guest from Brazil will draw on his editorial experience to provide a behind-the-scenes look to explain what distinguishes impactful empirical research from manuscripts that struggle to meet the expectations of leading international journals. The talk addresses recurring methodological and theoretical weaknesses, emerging trends in empirical research, and how researchers can design studies that make a significant contribution to operations and production management.
About Prof. Alejandro G. Frank
Prof. Alejandro G. Frank conducts research in the fields of digital transformation, Industry 4.0, and operations management. His work has received exceptional international attention; for instance, his 2019 article on Industry 4.0 technologies, published in the International Journal of Production Economics (IJPE), has been cited over 2,600 times in Scopus and is currently the journal's most-cited article on that platform. Prof. Frank also ranks among the top two percent of the most influential scientists worldwide according to the citation database compiled by Stanford University and Elsevier.
Beyond his own research, Prof. Frank plays a pivotal role in shaping international research in operations management, serving as an editor for IJPE (one of the field's leading journals) and as a board member of the European Operations Management Association (EurOMA). His international academic experience includes research activities at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), where he remains affiliated with the MIT Industrial Performance Center.
For further information, please contact Prof. Matthias Thürer at matthias.thuerer@mb.tu-chemnitz.de. Details regarding the lectures can be found at https://www.tu-chemnitz.de/mb/FabrPlan/fo_seminars.php.en
(Author: Prof. Matthias Thürer)
Mario Steinebach
16.09.2026
