Industry 4.0 Implementation in Small- and Medium-Sized Enterprises: Recommendations Extracted from a Systematic Literature Review with a Focus on Maturity Models

Kim Häring, Carina Pimentel () and Leonor Teixeira
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Kim Häring: Department of Economics, Management, Industrial Engineering and Tourism (DEGEIT), University of Aveiro, 3810-193 Aveiro, Portugal
Carina Pimentel: Algoritmi Research Center, Department of Production and Systems, School of Engineering, University of Minho, 4800-058 Guimarães, Portugal
Leonor Teixeira: Department of Economics, Management, Industrial Engineering and Tourism (DEGEIT), Institute of Electronics and Informatics Engineering of Aveiro (IEETA)/Intelligent Systems Associate Laboratory (LASI), University of Aveiro, 3810-193 Aveiro, Portugal

Logistics, 2023, vol. 7, issue 4, 1-18

Abstract: Background : Industry 4.0 signifies a profound global transformation in production and service activities through its novel organizational principles, including digital connectivity, information transparency, technical assistance, and decentralized decision making. This transformation poses significant challenges for businesses, particularly small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). In response, maturity models have been developed and adapted to facilitate a transparent and supportive entry into this transformative domain. Method/Aim : This study is dedicated to the comprehensive analysis of Industry 4.0 maturity models through a systematic literature review to identify and evaluate previously published recommendations for the adoption and utilization of Industry 4.0. The aim is to provide valuable insights in this context, with a particular focus on easing entry into this domain for SMEs. Results : Quantitative findings reveal a growing demand for fundamental support when entering this domain, with maturity models capable of meeting the demand for structured guidance. However, these models are currently under-validated, lacking transparency, and are often unsuitable for SMEs. Qualitative results categorize numerous insights and recommendations into ten distinct categories related to Industry 4.0. Conclusions : This paper provides a structured summary to support newcomers, research institutions, and businesses in effectively initiating and optimizing their Industrsy 4.0 activities.

Keywords: Industry 4.0; maturity model; SME; readiness model; manufacturing; small and medium-sized enterprise (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: L8 L80 L81 L86 L87 L9 L90 L91 L92 L93 L98 L99 M1 M10 M11 M16 M19 R4 R40 R41 R49 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2023
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