Analysis of Factors Affecting Company Performance by Smart Factory

Abstract

The South Korean government is actively assisting the supply of the smart factory solutions to SMEs (Small & Medium-sized Enterprises) according to its manufacturing innovation 3.0 policy for the smart manufacturing as the 4th industrial revolution era unfolds. This study analyzed the impacts of the smart factory solutions, which have been supplied by the government, on the companies performances. The effects of the level of smart factory and the operation capabilities for the smart factory solutions on company performances, and the mediating effects of manufacturing capabilities have been analyzed using SPSS and AMOS. The data for this survey-based study were collected from the SMEs which implemented the smart factory solutions since 2015. The results show that the level of smart factory solutions adopted and operation capabilities for the smart factories do not have direct effects on the company performances, but their mediating effects on the manufacturing capabilities matter and the manufacturing capabilities effect directly on the company performances. In addition significant factors boosting the operation capability for the smart factory and the levels of the smart factory solutions are identified. Finally, the policy direction for enhancing the smart factory effects is presented, and the future research directions along with the limitations are suggested.