Systematische Erstellung eines Maßnahmenkatalogs zur Verbesserung der Logistik von Klein- und mittelständischen Unternehmen

With the transition from Industry 4.0 to Industry 5.0, the focus of industrial value creation is shifting beyond automation and digitalization to increasingly include social, ecological, and resilience-related dimensions. Small and medium-sized enterprises are particularly challenged to continuously optimize their production and logistics processes to remain competitive while meeting growing demands for sustainability and flexibility. Industry 4.0 and 5.0 approaches offer a wide range of technological opportunities, such as digital networking, cyber-physical systems, and human-centered assistance technologies. In parallel, lean management methods have long provided established principles for systematic process improvement, waste reduction, and employee involvement. The core objective of this study is to examine how these two approaches can be applied complementarily in the logistics of manufacturing SMEs and to identify concrete fields of action for a future-oriented transformation. A systematic literature review (SLR) was conducted, analyzing 115 relevant publications and categorizing them into five thematic clusters: human-centered production and logistics, sustainable logistics, intelligent production and logistics, synergy between lean and Industry 4.0, and lean manufacturing in SMEs. For each cluster, the current state of research was reviewed, key challenges identified, and practice-oriented design approaches derived. In addition, an implementation-oriented action catalogue was developed, incorporating both traditional lean practices and digital technologies as well as ergonomic solutions. The measures were evaluated with a particular focus on their feasibility within the SME context, especially regarding effort, prerequisites, and short-term impact. A case study of 4a manufacturing GmbH demonstrates that the combination of simple lean tools with digital assistance systems and human-centered ergonomic concepts can serve as an effective foundation for future-proof production design. The findings show that a targeted integration of efficiency-oriented and human-centered principles can support both operational and cultural transformation processes in SMEs. Thus, this thesis contributes to the scientific foundation and practical operationalization of a human-centered, digital, and sustainable production in line with Industry 5.0 concepts.