Abstract
Nowadays, Industry 4.0 (I4.0) has become a trendy topic in manufacturing industries worldwide. The definition is far from being comprehensible for small players, and the practical uptake is ambiguous. Transnational companies are often at the top in deploying I4.0 features, learning primarily from their experimentation. Alternatively, small- to medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), given their less stable value chains and unsteady processes, tend to target most of their efforts on controlling disturbances and adopting solutions for deviation control. Such solutions can be features that set the path for SMEs to transition to I4.0. This paper aims to examine the reported degree of digitalization in implemented solutions in SMEs when handling deviations and analyze the integration of such solutions in their digital transformation process. Systematic literature review (SLR) is used to examine literature published up to and including January 2019. The results show a higher concentration on practical applications rather than on frameworks. Existing frameworks that focus on SMEs address particular elements of I4.0 rather than a gradual shift with a holistic view, increasing the deployment difficulty for SMEs. This paper identifies potential constraints in deployment if such a trend maintains for consecutive years.
Highlights
The early interpretation of the I4.0 paradigm dealt with “smart manufacturing” (SM), putting the factory at the center, imagining its transformation through digitalization
According to the analysis presented by Maier [11], the countries where small- to medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) have been most successful in adopting new technologies have coherent government strategies in place to support them, for instance, Germany (Industrie 4.0), China (Made in China 2025), and the USA (America Makes)
This paper aims to find out the research coverage in terms of smart solutions and digitalization in SMEs under the umbrella of I4.0
Summary
The early interpretation of the I4.0 paradigm dealt with “smart manufacturing” (SM), putting the factory at the center, imagining its transformation through digitalization. It is foreseen that I4.0 will revolutionize the way the design, manufacture, operation, The competitive nature of today’s industry forces more factories to move toward implementing high-tech methodologies [5]. A significant issue remains in the digital, sensing, and smart factory of the future, i.e., how digital integration and real-time data monitoring can be realized in practice [6, 7]. Existing integration solutions represent complex and centrally organized systems, which are costly to adapt and maintain. They prohibit the flexible integration of IT systems and the self-organization of manufacturing processes, especially in small- to medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) with a limited budget of resources and limited IT knowledge [8]. SMEs tend to struggle to adapt to external market forces and make the step in expanding their business due to a lack of expertise and resources [9, 10]
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