Factors that Inhibit Sustainable Adoption of Industry 4.0 in the South African Manufacturing Industry

Whisper Maisiri, Liezl van Dyk and Rojanette Coeztee
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Whisper Maisiri: School of Industrial Engineering, North-West University, Potchefstroom 2531, South Africa
Liezl van Dyk: Faculty of Engineering, North-West University, Potchefstroom 2531, South Africa
Rojanette Coeztee: School of Industrial Engineering, North-West University, Potchefstroom 2531, South Africa

Sustainability, 2021, vol. 13, issue 3, 1-21

Abstract: Industry 4.0 (I4.0) adoption in the manufacturing industry is on the rise across the world, resulting in increased empirical research on barriers and drivers to I4.0 adoption in specific country contexts. However, no similar studies are available that focus on the South African manufacturing industry. Our small-scale interview-based qualitative descriptive study aimed at identifying factors that may inhibit sustainable adoption of I4.0 in the country’s manufacturing industry. The study probed the views and opinions of 16 managers and specialists in the industry, as well as others in supportive roles. Two themes emerged from the thematic analysis: factors that inhibit sustainable adoption of I4.0 and strategies that promote I4.0 adoption in the South African manufacturing industry. The interviews highlighted cultural construct, structural inequalities, noticeable youth unemployment, fragmented task environment, and deficiencies in the education system as key inhibitors. Key strategies identified to promote sustainable adoption of I4.0 include understanding context and applying relevant technologies, strengthening policy and regulatory space, overhauling the education system, and focusing on primary manufacturing. The study offers direction for broader investigations of the specific inhibitors to sustainable I4.0 adoption in the sub-Saharan African developing countries and the strategies for overcoming them.

Keywords: Industry 4.0; sustainability; manufacturing industry; South Africa; technology adoption drivers; technology adoption barriers; qualitative descriptive study (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (4)

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