Abstract

The impact of Industry 4.0 and its opportunities are expected to be significant for manufacturers. A lack of empirical studies creates the need for academic contributions on the critical success factors of Industry 4.0 implementations and their resultant improvements for manufacturing businesses. This research uses case studies of eight implementations of Industry 4.0 technologies in Italy to supplement existent literature. An original data set was constructed using a purposely defined research protocol using plant visits and structured interviews. Continuous improvement/lean management emerged as a critical success factor for implementation, together with quality and flexibility-based competition, top management leadership, establishment of inter-functional teams, conducting of preparatory activities, project planning and training activities. Incremental/evolutionary and radical/revolutionary improvements in business model elements are possible outcomes of implementations, while addressing customers’ needs emerges as an antecedent to radical/revolutionary improvements. Managers will benefit from understanding how to achieve successful implementations and business improvements.

摘要

工业 4.0 的影响及其机遇预计对制造商而言意义重大。缺乏实证研究导致需要对工业 4.0 实施的关键成功因素及其对制造企业的改进做出学术贡献。本研究使用意大利八个工业 4.0 技术实施案例研究来补充现有文献。原始数据集是使用工厂访问和结构化访谈的有目的定义的研究协议构建的。持续改进/精益管理与基于质量和灵活性的竞争、高层管理领导、建立跨职能团队，开展筹备活动、项目规划和培训活动。业务模型元素的渐进式/进化式和激进式/革命性改进是实施的可能结果，而满足客户需求则是激进式/革命性改进的先决条件。经理们将受益于了解如何实现成功的实施和业务改进。