Identifying and Prioritizing Barriers of Industry 4.0 Adoption, Using Fuzzy Delphi and Group ZBWM: A Case Study in an Emerging Economy

In the era of digitalization, the biggest challenge is to eliminate barriers of Industry 4.0 (I4.0) adoption, which maybe even difficult to predict. Successful I4.0 technology implementation can boost productivity, achieve optimum resource management, and meet dynamic customer needs through customized mass production. Studies indicate that the drawbacks of I4.0 adoption vary significantly in different circumstances. To elaborate, new technology implementation may pass a smoother process in developed countries. Although, there might be some different facilitation in developing countries and emerging economies. This research aims to identify the barriers and challenges of I4.0 adoption and prioritize them. For this purpose, at first, a list of potential risks is recognized by a comprehensive literature review. Then, the Fuzzy Delphi method (FDM) is used to assess and finalize the related barriers. Subsequently, the barriers are weighted to the experts’ opinion. With the intention to increase the consistency of the study results in this state-of-the-art inquiry and consider the uncertainty and reliability of decision makers’ perspectives, Z numbers are incorporated into BWM. Finally, improved group Z-BWM is conducted to find the most relevant barriers in Goldiran (LG-Gplus) company, as a case study in Iran, an emerging economy. The results indicated that lack of financial resources has the highest importance. The result may help DMs and industrial managers in the home appliance industry in Iran to find out the actual barriers in implementing I4.0 technologies and focus their attention on how to obtain the significant advantages of the fourth industrial revolution by a successful I4.0 adoption.