A bibliometric analysis of industry 5.0 and healthcare supply chain research: Emerging opportunities and future challenges

Abstract

This paper explores the emerging field of Industry 5.0 in the context of healthcare supply chains (HSC). It aims to improve resilience, sustainability, and efficiency through human-centred techniques and cutting-edge technology. This study focuses on HSC management and emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI), the Internet of Things (IoT), and robotics. Using a bibliometric analysis of 142 academic publications, this paper identifies key publication trends, significant research contributions, and thematic clusters. The results show a steady increase in research interest since 2018, with a growth rate of 15 % year-on-year in publications and contributions from 20 countries, led by the United States of America, China and the United Kingdom. These suggest implementing Industry 5.0 technology to optimize operational processes, improve demand forecasting, and advance sustainable practices. Identified topic clusters highlight key aspects such as decision support systems, sustainability, resilience, and technological integration, demonstrating the potential of Industry 5.0 to transform healthcare logistics. Integrating human expertise with intelligent systems, Industry 5.0 addresses healthcare delivery challenges while ensuring high-quality patient care. Future research can build on this study’s contributions to explore the intersection of HSC management and technological advancements.