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A Maturity Level-Based Assessment Tool to Enhance the Implementation of Industry 4.0 in Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises

Author

Listed:
  • Erwin Rauch

    (Industrial Engineering and Automation (IEA), Faculty of Science and Technology, Free University of Bozen-Bolzano, 39100 Bolzano, Italy)

  • Marco Unterhofer

    (Industrial Engineering and Automation (IEA), Faculty of Science and Technology, Free University of Bozen-Bolzano, 39100 Bolzano, Italy)

  • Rafael A. Rojas

    (Industrial Engineering and Automation (IEA), Faculty of Science and Technology, Free University of Bozen-Bolzano, 39100 Bolzano, Italy)

  • Luca Gualtieri

    (Industrial Engineering and Automation (IEA), Faculty of Science and Technology, Free University of Bozen-Bolzano, 39100 Bolzano, Italy)

  • Manuel Woschank

    (Chair of Industrial Logistics, Monanuniversitaet Leoben, 8700 Leoben, Austria)

  • Dominik T. Matt

    (Industrial Engineering and Automation (IEA), Faculty of Science and Technology, Free University of Bozen-Bolzano, 39100 Bolzano, Italy
    Innovation Engineering Center (IEC), Fraunhofer Italia Research s.c.a.r.l., 39100 Bolzano, Italy)

Abstract

Industry 4.0 has attracted the attention of manufacturing companies over the past ten years. Despite efforts in research and knowledge transfer from research to practice, the introduction of Industry 4.0 concepts and technologies is still a major challenge for many companies, especially small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). Many of these SMEs have no overview of existing Industry 4.0 concepts and technologies, how they are implemented in their own companies, and which concepts and technologies should primarily be focused on future Industry 4.0 implementation measures. The aim of this research was to develop an assessment model for SMEs that is easy to apply, provides a clear overview of existing Industry 4.0 concepts, and supports SMEs in defining their individual strategy to introduce Industry 4.0 in their firm. The maturity level-based assessment tool presented in this work includes a catalog of 42 Industry 4.0 concepts and a norm strategy based on the results of the assessment to support SMEs in introducing the most promising concepts. For testing and validation purposes, the assessment model has been applied in a field study with 17 industrial companies.

Suggested Citation

  • Erwin Rauch & Marco Unterhofer & Rafael A. Rojas & Luca Gualtieri & Manuel Woschank & Dominik T. Matt, 2020. "A Maturity Level-Based Assessment Tool to Enhance the Implementation of Industry 4.0 in Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(9), pages 1-18, April.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:12:y:2020:i:9:p:3559-:d:351121
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    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. Agnieszka A. Tubis & Katarzyna Grzybowska, 2022. "In Search of Industry 4.0 and Logistics 4.0 in Small-Medium Enterprises—A State of the Art Review," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(22), pages 1-26, November.
    2. Kayikci, Yasanur & Kazancoglu, Yigit & Gozacan-Chase, Nazlican & Lafci, Cisem & Batista, Luciano, 2022. "Assessing smart circular supply chain readiness and maturity level of small and medium-sized enterprises," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 149(C), pages 375-392.
    3. Cihan Ünal & Cemil Sungur & Hakan Yildirim, 2022. "Application of the Maturity Model in Industrial Corporations," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(15), pages 1-25, August.
    4. Jan Zavadsky & Zuzana Zavadska & Katarzyna Szczepanska-Woszczyna, 2021. "Quantification of the Process Improvement Exigency Related to Industry 4.0," European Research Studies Journal, European Research Studies Journal, vol. 0(Special 4), pages 65-86.
    5. Rafael Martínez-Peláez & Marco A. Escobar & Vanessa G. Félix & Rodolfo Ostos & Jorge Parra-Michel & Vicente García & Alberto Ochoa-Brust & Pablo Velarde-Alvarado & Ramón A. Félix & Sandra Olivares-Bau, 2024. "Sustainable Digital Transformation for SMEs: A Comprehensive Framework for Informed Decision-Making," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(11), pages 1-25, May.
    6. Nicola Bellantuono & Angela Nuzzi & Pierpaolo Pontrandolfo & Barbara Scozzi, 2021. "Digital Transformation Models for the I4.0 Transition: Lessons from the Change Management Literature," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(23), pages 1-40, November.
    7. Aida Kamišalić & Martina Šestak & Tina Beranič, 2020. "Supporting the Sustainability of Natural Fiber-Based Value Chains of SMEs through Digitalization," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(19), pages 1-20, October.
    8. Zeki Murat Çınar & Qasim Zeeshan & Orhan Korhan, 2021. "A Framework for Industry 4.0 Readiness and Maturity of Smart Manufacturing Enterprises: A Case Study," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(12), pages 1-32, June.
    9. Davidson de Almeida Santos & Osvaldo Luiz Gonçalves Quelhas & Carlos Francisco Simões Gomes & Luis Perez Zotes & Sérgio Luiz Braga França & Guilherme Vinagre Pinto de Souza & Robson Amarante de Araújo, 2020. "Proposal for a Maturity Model in Sustainability in the Supply Chain," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(22), pages 1-37, November.

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