The factory of the future depends on people and technology working together.

That idea powers People B4 Machines, a new podcast about the real-world challenges of factory automation. Hosted by Amanda Cupido and powered by Eclipse Automation, the series cuts through the noise, calls BS on automation hype, and explores how leaders can align strategy, technology, and culture to move manufacturing forward.

Each episode takes listeners inside what engineers and plant leaders face on Monday mornings—real problems, real pressures—and looks ahead at how the next wave of automation will evolve. It’s a human-first take on an industry that’s often too focused on machines.

In the first episode, Jeff Winter, Vice President of Business Strategy at Critical Manufacturing and one of LinkedIn’s top Industry 4.0 voices, shares what’s shaping the next phase of industrial progress and why success depends on human-centric thinking.

In this article

Listen to the full conversation

Hear Jeff Winter’s full episode, Beyond the Numbers: The Next Wave of Industrial Evolution, and explore more conversations on the human side of factory automation at peopleb4machines.com.

Rethinking the next wave of industrial progress

Winter traces the concept of Industry 4.0 back to its origins at the 2011 Hanover Fair in Germany, where nine core technology pillars—from IoT to robotics—defined a new digital era. He sees Industry 5.0 not as a new revolution but as a continuation focused on being human-centric, sustainable, and resilient.

He explains that “the purpose of all this tech isn’t to push people out, it’s to lift them up. So instead of treating workers as obstacles to efficiency, Industry 5.0 treats them as creative partners.”

For manufacturers, that shift means designing factories where technology “enhances human judgment, intuition, and problem-solving”—skills only people bring to the table.

Why leadership drives adoption

Despite rapid progress in automation and AI, many manufacturers remain stuck in “pilot purgatory.” They can prove what works but can’t scale it. Winter notes that the barrier isn’t technical—it’s cultural.

“Technology alone doesn’t move the needle,” he shared. “You can have thousands of IoT sensors, but if the data isn’t trusted, if workflows aren’t redesigned, and if people aren’t engaged, the value never shows up.”

His research points to leadership and policy as the real drivers of change. Government support and competitive pressure create the momentum needed for adoption. When executives see external validation and internal alignment, transformation follows.

Redesigning work

Winter believes companies must redesign how work happens, not just how workflows are automated. Each use case should come with a clear role map that defines what people do more of—problem solving, improvement, oversight—and what automation takes on.

He advises upskilling in weeks rather than years, using micro-learning, AR training, and peer coaching to close skill gaps quickly. As Winter explained, “If we digitize tasks without redesigning roles, we create automation anxiety. We have to redesign the work, not just the workflow.”

This approach creates alignment between people and purpose, making transformation sustainable instead of disruptive.

Building resilience into every connection

With more than 18 billion connected devices worldwide, cybersecurity is now part of every factory’s foundation. Winter encourages leaders to bake protection into their designs rather than add it later. “Design for security, not just efficiency,” said Winter. “Treat people as the front line and make it continuous.”

Cybersecurity, like maintenance or quality, is a living capability that must evolve daily. Companies that approach it this way build resilience into every layer of their operation.