Derivation of socio-technical solution patterns for industry 4.0 problem classes

Abstract

The implementation of Industry 4.0 solutions in manufacturing companies is a socio-technical challenge. This means, the dimensions of technology, organization and humans must always be considered equally. This makes the implementation process an enormously complex task for companies, especially for SMEs. On the one hand, the industry 4.0 solutions suitable for individual needs must be selected from an unmanageable number of possibilities. On the other hand, all interactions of the socio-technical dimensions must be considered at the same time, so that consistent and sustainably efficient solutions are chosen.To support SMEs, especially in the early phase of design, we use the approach of knowledge management with solution patterns. Therefore, eight problem classes were formed from 74 existing problems for Industry 4.0 with the help of a cluster analysis and multidimensional scaling. Subsequently, 31 dimension-specific solution patterns were derived. A dimension-specific solution pattern is assigned to a socio-technical dimension (technology, organization, human) and represents successful problem-solution combinations of digital pioneers in a generalized form. They form the basis for the development of socio-technical solution patterns for the Industry 4.0 problem classes. With the help of the calculation of the problem coverage as well as consistency analyses per problem class, the dimension-specific solution patterns could be combined to a total of 24 socio-technical solution patterns. Three socio-technical solution patterns with a problem coverage of at least 80% can be assigned to each problem class. They offer companies the possibility to access solution knowledge of digital pioneers in a structured form, to select solutions based on problem classes that fit to the companies demands and to consider socio-technical effects at the same time. In addition to other supporting tools, they are integrated into a procedure model for the selection and specification of sociotechnical solution patterns for Industry 4.0.