Soft Skills Development in the Manufacturing Workforce for Automobile Industry – Enhancing Productivity and Adaptability in the Age of Industry 5.0
Soft Skills Development in the Manufacturing Workforce for Automobile Industry - Enhancing Productivity and Adaptability in the Age of Industry 5.0
(With Special Reference to Pune District of Maharashtra)
Authors:
Dr. Sabale Sachin Uttareshwar
Research Guide & HOD Dept. of Commerce
- G. R. G. Shinde Mahavidyalay Paranda
Dist- Dharashiv
Contact No. 8007765437/8830247376
Mail – sabalesachin2@gmail.com
Abstract
This research paper analyses the various importance of soft skills development in improving the productivity and adaptability among manufacturing workers in Pune’s automobile industry within Industry 5.0. Pune district is a large automobile manufacturing cluster in India, hosting OEMs and a huge network of suppliers & customers. Industry 5.0 emphasizes human-centricity, sustainability, and resilience alongside advanced automation. The research investigates which soft skills matter most for employees’ routine work in manufacturing activity & how management transits employees for better production in terms of measurable outcomes such as productivity, error rates, safety incidents, and technology adoption. Adopting a mixed-methods approach (survey, interviews, and case studies), the study finds that targeted soft-skills training integrated with technical up skilling positively correlates with improved productivity, quicker adoption of digital tools, and higher worker engagement. Recommendations include integrating soft-skill modules into in-house training, on-the-job coaching, industry–academia partnerships, and policy support for cluster-level workforce initiatives.
Keywords: Soft skills, Industry 5.0, manufacturing workforce, automobile industry, Pune district, productivity, digital adaptability