Abstract
The smart factory has evolved as a key and distinctive idea for Industry 4.0. These industries impart a significant influence on sustainable production because of their consistent industrial evolution/development. Recently, their technological advancements are deemed inevitable to survive in this competitive industry due to increasing market needs. Therefore, technological convergence analysis can provide deep insight into industrial progress and convergence. Consequently, contemporary research trends are centered on evaluating technological convergence. Although various studies are already available on the technological development of the smart factory concerning Industry 4.0, however far less significant work is available on the technological convergence assessment of the smart factory by employing data networks and patents. Therefore, this work is focused on the investigation of reliable data analysis of the smart factory’s technologies and its technological convergence. This said methodology assisted in examining the network’s hidden linkages using network analysis. A relevant case study of a smart factory is also discussed to evaluate its technological convergence. Thus, data-driven technologies have diverted focus from International Patent Classification (IPC) visual networks using convergence assessment tools. The findings of this study are intended to aid companies and government officials in forecasting future sustainable technological developments and decision making.
Highlights
Rapid advancements in information and communication technology (ICT), electronics, data storage, and manufacturing technologies have transformed the industry from digital to intelligent
The network visualization of International Patent Classification (IPC) codes per year is derived via UCINET
The IPC codes associated with each year’s patents were derived, and the networks were created for each year
Summary
Rapid advancements in information and communication technology (ICT), electronics, data storage, and manufacturing technologies have transformed the industry from digital to intelligent. Various industrialized countries and economic sectors are attempting to adjust to the fourth industrial revolution age. Various nations have recently begun their plans to deal with this age, such as with Germany’s Industry 4.0 [3], China’s Made in China 2025 [4], and the United States’ Smart Manufacturing [5]. With the fourth industrial revolution’s rising speed of technological progress, many businesses are seeking new ways to compete, and many firms are seeking new convergent technologies to compete in an ever-increasingly competitive market [6]. The smart factory is a fundamental idea and component of Industry
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