Through the Shoe 5.0 project – Partnership for footwear industry 5.0 readiness (REF: 2022-1-PT01-KA220-VET-000088122) – funded by the European Commission under the Erasmus+ KA2 cooperation partnership –, the European footwear industry is working to transform into a sustainable, human-centred and resilient industry. This requires equipping footwear workers with the essential skills and knowledge to effectively manage the introduction of new technologies, processes and systems, thinking about jobs that do not yet exist.

Therefore, a consortium has been set up bringing together the Portuguese Footwear Technology Centre (CTCP), the Portuguese technology company byAR, the Footwear Technology Centre of La Rioja (CTCR) and Politecnico Calzutiero from Spain, Gheorghe AsachiTechnical University of Iasi (TUIASI) from Romania, coordinated by the European Footwear Confederation (CEC) and the Portuguese management company Edit Value, to help footwear companies evolve towards a 5.0 industry by harnessing the potential of artificial intelligence (AI) and augmented reality (AR).  

5 Key Profiles

Through desk research, focus groups and a survey, the Shoe 5.0 consortium identified five key profiles: the footwear technical manager, the footwear manufacturing operator, the footwear designer/pattern maker, the maintenance technician and the footwear architect 5.0, which is an entirely new profile. As a result, 15 essential learning units were designed to prepare footwear workers for this significant transition to Industry 5.0, which are now in translation.

Innovative Approach

Considering the busy schedules and often shorter attention spans of the footwear workforce, the consortium chose the microlearning method to provide small, bite-sized pieces of content that take just a few minutes to complete.

It all starts with a  Scanning Tool, created by the project, to support users on customizing their own training path that allows them to take the most adequate units of learning according to their needs.

The team designed several infographics that present complex information in a visually appealing way. Infographics not only break down content into easy-to-understand visuals but also improve retention by simplifying concepts and engaging learners through design. At the same time, the consortium used AI-generated videos to engage both visual and auditory senses, significantly improving information retention.

To enhance the innovative learning method approach, an Augmented Reality (AR) app, specifically tailored for the Erasmus+ Shoe 5.0 initiative, is also being developed.

For each of the 15 identified learning units (ULOs)  the app will provide a different and engaging AR challenge allowing users to apply their acquired knowledge by solving them in an immersive AR environment. The app will not only complement the ULO canvas and AI-generated videos but also provide a hands-on learning experience that reinforces key concepts and promotes a deeper understanding of the material.

Future

“As we continue to innovate and adapt to the changing landscape of the footwear industry, the Erasmus+ Shoe 5.0 project stands at the forefront of this evolution. By harnessing the power of AR, AI, and modern learning methodologies, we are committed to empowering footwear workers and ensuring their success in this transformative era. We look forward to continued collaboration and engagement as we move toward a sustainable, human-centred, and resilient footwear sector”, concludes the Consortium.

For more updates, follow the website of the project.