From “Smart Company” to “Smart Business”: Implementation of Industry 4.0 Strategy Carried Out by GKN Mexico

Adriana Martínez Martínez ()
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Adriana Martínez Martínez: Escuela Nacional de Estudios Superiores Unidad León - Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM)

Chapter Chapter 6 in Digital and Sustainable Transformations in a Post-COVID World, 2023, pp 191-210 from Springer

Abstract: Abstract This chapter analyzes, through a study case, the implementation of the so-called Industry 4.0 (I4.0) strategy carried out by the global company GKN Automotive in its plants located in Guanajuato, Mexico, as well as identifies the main challenges this firm has faced and how these have been solved. The information was gathered through fieldwork via in-depth interviews with key actors from April 2018 to March 2021. The main results are a) regarding the implementation of the I4.0 strategy, the company went from being a “Smart Company” to being a “Smart Business”. This strategy is related to the lean approach: Doing more with less. b) The main challenges faced by the company are in the issues of, 1) Technological infrastructure: The company is working on strengthening its cybersecurity protocols which is essential in cyber-attack prevention. Another challenge in this point, is to ensure that analog machines (which are the oldest it has) can communicate with digital machines. The company has had to work on reconverting the older machinery. 2) Industry 4.0 job profiles: We can say that there is no engineer 4.0 in the labor market, hence, the company has formed multidisciplinary teams and attracted new talents. Furthermore, a second important point to keep in mind is that current and older workers need to be retrained to obtain these new required skills. 3) Profitable projects: Currently the company is focused on supporting projects that generate profits. Finally, this case study contributes to comprehending the feasibility and effectiveness of Industry 4.0 integration into existing manufacturing management systems.

Keywords: Industry 4.0; Smart company; Smart Business; Automotive industry; New job profile; Lean approach (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2023
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:spr:sprchp:978-3-031-16677-8_6

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DOI: 10.1007/978-3-031-16677-8_6

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