Quality assurance for Industry 5.0 logistics networks

Abstract

Collaborative logistics networks are increasingly adopted to improve efficiency, resilience, and sustainability in complex supply chain environments. However, ensuring consistent service quality across organizational boundaries remains a critical challenge, as traditional quality assurance approaches are predominantly firm-centric and insufficient for networked logistics systems. At the same time, the ongoing digital transformation of logistics and the emergence of Industry 5.0 call for integrated quality management approaches that combine advanced digital technologies with human-centric governance principles. This paper develops a conceptual framework for digital quality assurance in collaborative logistics networks from a network-level and socio-technical perspective. Based on a PRISMA-guided systematic literature review, the study synthesizes research on logistics quality management, digitalization, collaborative network governance, and Industry 5.0. The proposed framework integrates five interrelated layers: data acquisition and quality sensing, digital quality analytics, human–digital decision support, governance and trust mechanisms, and sustainability and resilience integration. The framework conceptualizes quality assurance as a network-level capability emerging from coordinated data sharing, interpretable analytics, and human-in-the-loop decision-making supported by transparent governance structures. The study contributes by providing an integrated conceptual architecture that extends quality management beyond firm-level boundaries and by demonstrating its practical applicability in collaborative logistics contexts. The findings offer guidance for designing proactive, transparent, and resilient quality assurance mechanisms in digitally connected supply networks.