Purpose

Industry 4.0 (I4.0) not only turns traditional industrial activities upside down but also demonstrates its potential to enhance industrial competitiveness and productivity. In this context, technological advancement and I4.0 is a strategy to be pursued. This study aims to consider different I4.0 technologies by analysing Indian small and medium enterprises (SMEs).

Design/methodology/approach

Key factors and promising I4.0 technologies were selected using literature analysis and experts’ panel. The appropriate I4.0 technology for Indian SMEs is recommended using the fuzzy complex proportional assessment (COPRAS) method.

Findings

Results reveal that ability to expand IT infrastructure, change in the organization’s structure and the capacity to analyse key performance indicators as three crucial key factors in I4.0 implementation. In particular, the smart factory is identified as a better I4.0 for Indian SMEs.

Originality/value

This work has analysed Indian SMEs, but it is appropriate for other developing economies with limited technical resources, financial resources and inadequate skill sets. This work identifies a gap in the current literature, and the findings proposed by this work are oriented to assist decision makers, industrial managers and practitioners in selecting I4.0 technology and enhancing the industrial infrastructure. At the same time, cooperation between the government and industrial community is required to develop programmes for imparting the knowledge of I4.0 among SMEs. The framework used in this study will arm the industrial management in adopting I4.0.

中文翻译：

---

中小企业 (SME) 采用工业 4.0 技术的关键因素评估：新兴经济背景

目的

工业 4.0（I4.0）不仅颠覆了传统的工业活动，而且展示了其提升工业竞争力和生产力的潜力。在此背景下，技术进步和I4.0是一个必须追求的战略。本研究旨在通过分析印度中小企业 (SME) 来考虑不同的 I4.0 技术。

设计/方法/途径

使用文献分析和专家小组选择了关键因素和有前途的 I4.0 技术。使用模糊复杂比例评估 (COPRAS) 方法推荐适合印度中小企业的 I4.0 技术。

发现

结果表明，扩展 IT 基础架构的能力、组织结构的变化以及分析关键绩效指标的能力是 I4.0 实施的三个关键关键因素。特别是，智能工厂被确定为印度中小企业更好的I4.0。

原创性/价值

这项工作分析了印度的中小企业，但它也适用于技术资源、财政资源和技能组合不足的其他发展中经济体。这项工作确定了当前文献中的差距，这项工作提出的研究结果旨在帮助决策者、工业管理者和从业者选择 I4.0 技术并加强工业基础设施。同时，需要政府和工业界合作制定向中小企业传授 I4.0 知识的计划。本研究中使用的框架将武装工业管理采用 I4.0。