Abstract
Digital technologies enable companies to build cyber-physical systems (CPS) in Industry 4.0. In the increasingly popular concept of Industry 4.0, an important research topic is the application of digital technology in industry, and in particular in specific industry sectors. The aim of this paper is to present the tools used in the steel industry in Poland on its way to the full digitalisation that is needed for the development of Industry 4.0. The paper consists of two parts: a literature review and a practical analysis. The paper provides the background information about digitalisation using digital tools in the steel industry in Poland. The paper was prepared based on secondary information and statistical data. The object of the research is the Polish steel sector. This study assumes that digitalisation is the main area of innovation in the steel industry. The digitalisation determines the creation of new or modified products, processes, techniques and expansion of the company’s infrastructure; therefore, the data on digital technology were supplemented with data on the innovativeness of the Polish steel sector. The results of this study provide managers with valuable information to understand the importance of full digitalisation and the need to focus on digital strategies. Such insights can be used to improve companies’ processing capabilities and produce better products, which is key to innovation.
Highlights
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The current study filled the gap and the results of this study provide valuable information to understand the importance of digitalisation in the steel industry
The steel sector in Poland directly generates 3% of the value of the industrial production in the country and about 0.3% of the total GDP (HIPH based on GUS) [96,97]
Summary
Rapid changes in digital technology are revolutionising industries and societies [1]. Digital technologies take a central place in Industry 4.0 [2]. The Polish steel industry has come a long way from the time of state-owned enterprises to private ones. Radical changes in the metallurgical industry took place during the transformation of the Polish economy (the highest intensity of changes was in the 1990s) [95]. Innovation (in statistical statements) of the sector is assessed by new or modified products, new or modified processes, technological investments and R&D activities. The steel sector in Poland directly generates 3% of the value of the industrial production in the country and about 0.3% of the total GDP (HIPH based on GUS) [96,97]. In broad terms (‘economic footprint’), as an element in the supply chain, it is responsible for generating about 2% of the GDP [98,99]
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