Developing a model for the introduction of Industry 4.0 technologies into the production processes of aviation industry enterprises

Abstract

Aim. The presented study aims to develop a model for the introduction of Industry 4.0 technologies into the production processes of domestic industrial companies in the aviation sector.Tasks. The authors reveal the content of the concept of Industry 4.0; propose an index for assessing the innovativeness of enterprises; present an empirical research base (company cases); propose a model for the introduction of Industry 4.0 technologies into the production processes of companies; assess the selected companies according to the developed model.Methods. This study uses the methods of in-depth interviews, analysis and synthesis of the obtained results. The results of the interviews are analyzed using the authors' model for the introduction of Industry 4.0 technologies. The theoretical basis of the study includes papers by foreign authors on the theory and practice of the introduction of Industry 4.0 technologies.Results. The concept and meaning of Industry 4.0, which creates a new industrial sector and can be considered as a new industrial era based on the use of advanced technologies in business, are revealed. The authors collect empirical data on four companies in the field of aviation engineering (cases) and use them to analyze the challenges of introducing Industry 4.0 technologies and adapting existing production processes in each case. A new model for the introduction of Industry 4.0 technologies into the production processes of domestic companies is proposed and described, making allowance for the identified shortcomings of similar existing models. The results of the assessment of the studied companies according to the developed model based on the analysis of cases are presented. The major directions for the implementation of Industry 4.0 are identified: lean management, the paperless factory concept, and workshop infrastructure.Conclusions. It is shown that each of these directions can be viewed as a basis for the successful implementation of innovations. The main conclusion of the study is that Industry 4.0 requires managers to change the way they think before any technologies can be adopted.