Abstract
<p><strong>Purpose:</strong> This paper aims to present the results of the study focused on the assessment of Industry 4.0 (I4.0) maturity level and adoption level of Quality 4.0 (Q4.0) intelligent technologies in organisations operating in the automotive industry in Slovakia (OEMs, Tier 1 and Tier 2 suppliers). The results serves as inputs for identification of learning and development needs.</p><p><strong>Methodology/Approach:</strong> The background of the study was a literature review and quantitative research. The I4.0 maturity model published by PwC (2016) was used in the study, while dimension elements were adjusted to the specifics of the automotive industry.</p><p><strong>Findings:</strong> Tier 1 and Tier 2 automotive suppliers are in the early stages of I4.0 maturity and adoption of Q4.0 intelligent technologies. OEMs achieve the level of horizontal collaborators in most of the dimensions. Q4.0 intelligent technologies are mostly adopted at an average level. Further development of OEMs to achieve the level of digital champions requires new disruptive business models and a fully integrated partner ecosystem.</p><p><strong>Research Limitation/Implication:</strong> The research is limited by the sample size and target levels of particular dimensions, related elements and Q4.0 intelligent technologies, which were not examined.</p><strong>Originality/Value of paper:</strong> The results bring more in-depth insight into the current state of I4.0 maturity and Q4.0 technology adoption level of the automotive organisations in Slovakia. There is no evidence of the study examining holistically the I4.0 maturity and Q4.0 technologies in the automotive.
Highlights
Nowadays, the automotive industry is facing incredible challenges like changing customer needs, mass customization, pressures to accelerate innovation and increase efficiency and issues of sustainability shifting production to electric vehicles
The paper contributes to fill the knowledge gap and contributes to the possibility of identification of learning and development needs to fulfil I4.0 strategy and related Q4.0 intelligent technologies adoption in Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs), Tier 1 and Tier 2 suppliers operating in Slovakia
Half of the dimensions at Tier 2 suppliers achieved the level of Vertical Integrator (D1, Dimension 3 (D3) and Dimension 5 (D5)), the values of the Dimension 2 (D2), Dimension 4 (D4) and Dimension 6 (D6) are on the level of Digital Novice
Summary
The automotive industry is facing incredible challenges like changing customer needs, mass customization, pressures to accelerate innovation and increase efficiency and issues of sustainability shifting production to electric vehicles. Quality 4.0 (Q4.0) leverages intelligent technologies and can help to improve the quality of products and services and differentiate a brand within its market. Holistic assessment of I4.0 maturity and identification of problematic fields and elements for defining future learning and development needs can help to achieve improvements and ensure competitiveness in the future. The paper contributes to fill the knowledge gap and contributes to the possibility of identification of learning and development needs to fulfil I4.0 strategy and related Q4.0 intelligent technologies adoption in OEMs, Tier 1 and Tier 2 suppliers operating in Slovakia
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