Critical success factors for implementing Industry 4.0 in Aerospace and Defense: A systematic literature review

Abstract

In recent years, technologies have made significant progress due to the increased availability of larger data sets, more powerful computing performance, and more significant budget allocations. However, many implications and concerns about the successful global implementation of Aerospace and Defense Industry 4.0 solutions remain. This study systematically reviews published Industry 4.0 studies in Aerospace and Defense articles to understand the critical components to implement smart technologies successfully. The review also included investigating Industry 4.0 definitions, technologies, implementation factors, and empirical studies using Industry 4.0 solutions in Aerospace and Defense. The study found records from 2015 to 2022 using multiple databases. The findings indicate ample research in organizations working toward digital transformation and model-based engineering, specifically in manufacturing, research and development, logistics, surveillance, reconnaissance, intelligence, and command and control. The results also emphasize the need for empirical evidence related to implementing Industry 4.0 and additional research on Industry 4.0 in Aerospace and Defense settings. The literature review includes a bibliometric analysis to assess the maturity of the topics and articles and a thematic analysis to investigate the critical success factors identified in the literature.