Barriers and Enablers for Industry 4.0 in SMEs: A Combined Integration Framework

Article

Müller, J. M., Islam, N., Kazantsev, N., Romanello, R., Olivera, G., Das, D. and Hamzeh, R. 2024. Barriers and Enablers for Industry 4.0 in SMEs: A Combined Integration Framework. IEEE Transactions on Engineering Management. In Press. https://doi.org/10.1109/TEM.2024.3365771
AuthorsMüller, J. M., Islam, N., Kazantsev, N., Romanello, R., Olivera, G., Das, D. and Hamzeh, R.
Abstract

Although Industry 4.0 was introduced a decade ago, many small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) still have not adopted several technologies. Therefore, integrating SMEs along horizontal, vertical, and end-to-end engineering dimensions remains challenging. Due to the importance of SMEs for industrial value chains, understanding SMEs' barriers and respective enablers for Industry 4.0 integration is vital. Applying a multiple case study approach, this paper investigates their experience in Industry 4.0 through technological, organizational, and environmental factors. We aggregate the barriers and respective enablers to Industry 4.0 into an integration framework, which helps to understand Industry 4.0 in SMEs from a broader viewpoint inside these firms, upstream and downstream supply chains, and beyond manufacturing. The findings show that the success of Industry 4.0 integration is more oriented toward operational benefits than strategic advantages and depends upon how these technologies are integrated with various stakeholders across the supply chain, such as original equipment manufacturers, R&D agencies, or sub-suppliers.

JournalIEEE Transactions on Engineering Management
Journal citationIn Press
ISSN0018-9391
1558-0040
Year2024
PublisherIEEE
Publisher's version
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File Access Level
Anyone
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)https://doi.org/10.1109/TEM.2024.3365771
Publication dates
Online13 Feb 2024
Publication process dates
Deposited23 Apr 2024
Copyright holder© 2024, The Authors
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