Purpose To support the vision of Industry 5.0 manufacturing companies must ensure human centricity, sustainability and resilience. In this article human-centricity, sustainability and resilience is supported through a vulnerability analysis performed on the emergency production of face masks. The aim was to analyse vulnerabilities/risks and find an approach applicable for critical and emergency production in the case of face mask production. Design/methodology/approach The production process, not in continuous use, was observed and analysed by operation personnel and assessment experts covering different aspects. In the vulnerability analysis energy, material, personnel, and maintenance supply of a production process for face masks was analysed. Findings Findings show that instructions and manuals as well as procedures for how to employ and train personnel need to be part of the emergency/contingency planning, it is not enough to store the equipment. New opportunities using digital and visual technologies can be utilised. Research limitations/implications The emergency production of face masks is an example of moving from Manufacturing readiness level (MRL) 6 to 10, which includes supporting the human need for instructions, looking at waste and material production as well as handling resilience through emergency preparedness Practical and Social implications This research is crucial for society since during Covid, Swedish healthcare needed temporary domestic production of personnel protective equipment. The analysis can be supplemented with social and environmental sustainability assessment. Original/value This paper contributes with enhanced practical and academic understanding of human factor importance in emergency production.