SUSTAINABLE INDUSTRIAL VALUE CREATION: BENEFITS AND CHALLENGES OF INDUSTRY 4.0

Daniel Kiel (), Julian M. Müller (), Christian Arnold () and Kai-Ingo Voigt ()
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Daniel Kiel: Friedrich-Alexander University Erlangen-Nürnberg, Lange Gasse 20, 90403 Nürnberg, Germany
Julian M. Müller: Friedrich-Alexander University Erlangen-Nürnberg, Lange Gasse 20, 90403 Nürnberg, Germany
Christian Arnold: Friedrich-Alexander University Erlangen-Nürnberg, Lange Gasse 20, 90403 Nürnberg, Germany
Kai-Ingo Voigt: Friedrich-Alexander University Erlangen-Nürnberg, Lange Gasse 20, 90403 Nürnberg, Germany

International Journal of Innovation Management (ijim), 2017, vol. 21, issue 08, 1-34

Abstract: The Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) poses several implications on manufacturers in terms of economic, ecological, and social aspects referring to the Triple Bottom Line (TBL) of sustainable value creation. Due to its technical core, the current research focused on its technical fundamentals, whereas the economic discussion is still in its infancy. This paper aims at painting a comprehensive and structured picture of IIoT-related economic, ecological, and social benefits and challenges. For this purpose, we employ an exploratory multiple case study approach based on semi-structured expert interviews in 46 manufacturing companies from three leading German industries. Our study contributes to the sparse body of scientific IIoT literature by analysing the IIoT’s implications according to the TBL. We show that, in order to qualify for sustainable industrial value creation, the IIoT requires an extension of the established TBL by three further dimensions, i.e., technical integration, data and information, and public context.

Keywords: Industrial Internet of Things; Industry 4.0; Triple Bottom Line; sustainability; expert interviews; multiple case study; qualitative study; manufacturing companies; German industry sectors (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2017
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (75)

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DOI: 10.1142/S1363919617400151

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