Overall Readiness of Logistics 4.0: A Comparative Study of Automotive, Manufacturing, and Electronics Industries in the West Bohemian Region (Czech Republic)

Abstract

Industry 4.0 brings technologies of automation, the use of collaborative robots, and modern advanced warehousing interconnected with digitization of all steps of the production process, not excluding logistics. Internal logistics vary in different product types. Due to the specification of the Industry 4.0. concept, irregularities can be improved into fully autonomous processes. This trend also raises SMEs’ flexibility in terms of business processes and production organization. The transformation to Industry 4.0 is different from many perspectives (technological, organizational, financial). Therefore, companies need to know their processes’ state and determine their readiness for automation and digitization. After this, a consecutive strategy needs to be adjusted. This article presents the evaluation results of a comparison within individual business sectors (automotive, engineering, and electrical engineering fields). Several scientific methods were used for the successful realization of the objectives of the work (basic logical methods and empirical methods). The proposed methodology was verified in the form of an experiment in selected industrial enterprises. Internal logistics processes were observed inside real enterprises as a form of suitable preliminary research. Further potential cooperation between the companies and a team of experts specializing in Industry 4.0 is planned.