Editorial

Open AccessEditorial

Implementing Smart Services in Small- and Medium-Sized Manufacturing Companies: On the Progress of Servitization in the Era of Industry 4.0

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Johannes Winter

Sci 2023, 5(3), 29; https://doi.org/10.3390/sci5030029 - 12 Jul 2023

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Abstract

For a long time, the challenge has been to provide products and services that precisely match the preferences, habits, and needs of users [...] Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Industry 4.0 – The Global Industrial Revolution: Achievements, Obstacles and Research Needs for the Digital Transformation of Industry)

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Research

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Open AccessArticle

COVID-19 as a Jump Start for Industry 4.0? Motivations and Core Areas of Pandemic-Related Investments in Digital Technologies at German Firms

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Sci 2023, 5(3), 28; https://doi.org/10.3390/sci5030028 - 07 Jul 2023

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Abstract

Academic studies prior to the pandemic rather emphasized that the progression towards Industry 4.0 happened in an incremental manner. However, the extraordinary circumstances of the pandemic have led to considerable investments that were widely interpreted as a (generalized) digitalization push. However, little is [...] Read more.

Academic studies prior to the pandemic rather emphasized that the progression towards Industry 4.0 happened in an incremental manner. However, the extraordinary circumstances of the pandemic have led to considerable investments that were widely interpreted as a (generalized) digitalization push. However, little is known about the character of such investments and their effects. The goal of this contribution is to provide an empirically based overview of recent investment in digital technologies in six economic sectors of the German economy: mechanical engineering, chemicals, automotives, logistics, healthcare, and financial services. Based on 36 case studies and a survey at 540 companies, we investigate the following questions: 1. How much did the COVID-19 pandemic reduce existing obstacles for investments in digitalization measures? 2. Is there a universal digitalization push due to the COVID-19 pandemic that differs from the trajectory before the pandemic? The results show that the pandemic affected investment in an unequal manner. It was driven by the immediate need to sustain business operations through the virtualization of communication among employees and with external partners. However, there was less dynamism in shop-floor-related digitalization, as it was less related to epidemiological concerns and is more long-term in nature. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Industry 4.0 – The Global Industrial Revolution: Achievements, Obstacles and Research Needs for the Digital Transformation of Industry)

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Open AccessArticle

The Digital Calibration Certificate (DCC) for an End-to-End Digital Quality Infrastructure for Industry 4.0

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Sci 2023, 5(1), 11; https://doi.org/10.3390/sci5010011 - 06 Mar 2023

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 2378

Abstract

This article depicts the role of the Digital Calibration Certificate (DCC) for an end-to-end digital quality infrastructure and as the basis for developments that are designated by the keyword “Industry 4.0”. Furthermore, it describes the impact the DCC has on increasing productivity in [...] Read more.

This article depicts the role of the Digital Calibration Certificate (DCC) for an end-to-end digital quality infrastructure and as the basis for developments that are designated by the keyword “Industry 4.0”. Furthermore, it describes the impact the DCC has on increasing productivity in the manufacturing of products and in global trade. The DCC project is international in its scope. Calibration certificates document the measurement capability of a measurement system. They do this independently and by providing traceability to measurement standards. Therefore, they do not only play an important role in the world of metrology, but they also make it possible for manufacturing and commercial enterprises to exchange measurement values reliably and correctly at the national and at the international level. Thus, a DCC concept is urgently needed for the end-to-end digitalization of industry for the era of Industry 4.0 and for Medicine 4.0. A DCC brings about important advantages for issuers and for users. The DCC leads to the stringent, end-to-end, traceable and process-oriented organization of manufacturing and trading. Digitalization is thus a key factor in the field of calibration as it enables significant improvements in product and process quality. The reason for this is that the transmission of errors will be prevented, and consequently, costs will be saved as the time needed for distributing and disseminating the DCCs and the respective calibration objects will be reduced. Furthermore, it will no longer be necessary for the test equipment administration staff to update the data manually, which is a time-consuming, tedious and error-prone process. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Industry 4.0 – The Global Industrial Revolution: Achievements, Obstacles and Research Needs for the Digital Transformation of Industry)

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Open AccessArticle

Industry 4.0: Options for Human-Oriented Work Design

by

Hartmut Hirsch-Kreinsen

Sci 2023, 5(1), 9; https://doi.org/10.3390/sci5010009 - 15 Feb 2023

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1101

Abstract

This contribution deals with the diffusion of Industry 4.0 technologies and their consequences for work. Additionally, design options for work in Industry 4.0 are discussed. The following are outlined: First, since there are as yet no concrete future prospects for digital work, different [...] Read more.

This contribution deals with the diffusion of Industry 4.0 technologies and their consequences for work. Additionally, design options for work in Industry 4.0 are discussed. The following are outlined: First, since there are as yet no concrete future prospects for digital work, different development perspectives can be envisioned. Second, the development of Industry 4.0, therefore, has to be regarded as a design project. One theoretical basis for this is the “sociotechnical systems” approach. Third, this approach enables criteria for the design and implementation of human-oriented forms of digitized work to be systematically developed. The empirical basis of this contribution derives from research findings on the implementation of Industry 4.0 technologies and the development of digitized work in German industry. The research results are based on qualitative research methods such as company case studies and expert interviews. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Industry 4.0 – The Global Industrial Revolution: Achievements, Obstacles and Research Needs for the Digital Transformation of Industry)

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Open AccessArticle

Scarce Data in Intelligent Technical Systems: Causes, Characteristics, and Implications

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Christoph-Alexander Holst

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Volker Lohweg

Sci 2022, 4(4), 49; https://doi.org/10.3390/sci4040049 - 12 Dec 2022

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Abstract

Technical systems generate an increasing amount of data as integrated sensors become more available. Even so, data are still often scarce because of technical limitations of sensors, an expensive labelling process, or rare concepts, such as machine faults, which are hard to capture. [...] Read more.

Technical systems generate an increasing amount of data as integrated sensors become more available. Even so, data are still often scarce because of technical limitations of sensors, an expensive labelling process, or rare concepts, such as machine faults, which are hard to capture. Data scarcity leads to incomplete information about a concept of interest. This contribution details causes and effects of scarce data in technical systems. To this end, a typology is introduced which defines different types of incompleteness. Based on this, machine learning and information fusion methods are presented and discussed that are specifically designed to deal with scarce data. The paper closes with a motivation and a call for further research efforts into a combination of machine learning and information fusion. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Industry 4.0 – The Global Industrial Revolution: Achievements, Obstacles and Research Needs for the Digital Transformation of Industry)

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Open AccessArticle

Industry 4.0 from An Entrepreneurial Transformation and Financing Perspective

by

Kai Lucks

Sci 2022, 4(4), 47; https://doi.org/10.3390/sci4040047 - 01 Dec 2022

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Abstract

This paper addresses the management of digital–informational transformation of industrial enterprises. Any transformation requires the coordinated action of several independent actors. Similarly, the digital–informational transformation required for the fourth industrial revolution (i.e., Industry 4.0) requires the involvement of multiple actors from the public [...] Read more.

This paper addresses the management of digital–informational transformation of industrial enterprises. Any transformation requires the coordinated action of several independent actors. Similarly, the digital–informational transformation required for the fourth industrial revolution (i.e., Industry 4.0) requires the involvement of multiple actors from the public and private sectors. This applies to an individual company as well as to the entire sector, regardless of the desired level of transformation. The increasing dissolution of boundaries between industrial and non-industrial actors is therefore essential for Industry 4.0. This paper addresses the above dissolution activities, focusing on cross-company networks and management issues. The management aspects of the following factors are examined: culture change, strategies, degree of digitalization, degree of networking, Internet of Things, digital ecosystems, human resources, organizational development, hierarchies, cross-functional collaboration, cost drivers, innovation pressures, supply chains, enterprise resource planning systems and corporate acquisitions/mergers. Based on the findings on the above factors, a management-driven model of the “transformation to Industry 4.0” for manufacturing companies is presented and discussed. This work thus complements the existing literature on Industry 4.0, as the majority of the literature on Industry 4.0 deals with technical problem solving at the field level. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Industry 4.0 – The Global Industrial Revolution: Achievements, Obstacles and Research Needs for the Digital Transformation of Industry)

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Open AccessArticle

Increasing Firm Performance through Industry 4.0—A Method to Define and Reach Meaningful Goals

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Christian Koldewey

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Daniela Hobscheidt

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Christoph Pierenkemper

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Arno Kühn

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Roman Dumitrescu

Sci 2022, 4(4), 39; https://doi.org/10.3390/sci4040039 - 18 Oct 2022

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1202

Abstract

Industry 4.0 is one of the most influential trends in manufacturing as of now. Coined as the fourth industrial revolution it promises to overthrow entrenched structures opening new pathways for innovation and value creation. Like all revolutions, it is accompanied by disruption and [...] Read more.

Industry 4.0 is one of the most influential trends in manufacturing as of now. Coined as the fourth industrial revolution it promises to overthrow entrenched structures opening new pathways for innovation and value creation. Like all revolutions, it is accompanied by disruption and uncertainty. Consequently, many manufacturing companies struggle to adopt an Industry 4.0 perspective that benefits their performance. Hence, our goal was to develop a method for increasing firm performance through Industry 4.0. A key factor was to focus on the entire company as a socio-technical system to depict the numerous interactions between people, technology, and business/organization. To realize the method, we combined consortium research, design science, and method engineering. We gathered comprehensive data from workshops, interviews, and five case studies, which we used to develop the method. It consists of four phases: a maturity model to determine the status quo, a procedure to derive a target position, a pattern-based approach to design the socio-technical system, and a procedure to define a transformation setup. Our approach is the first to combine maturity models with foresight and extensive prescriptive knowledge. For practitioners, the method gives orientation for the future-oriented planning of their transformation processes. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Industry 4.0 – The Global Industrial Revolution: Achievements, Obstacles and Research Needs for the Digital Transformation of Industry)

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Open AccessArticle

Industry 4.0 as a Challenge for the Skills and Competencies of the Labor Force: A Bibliometric Review and a Survey

by

Abdelkarim Alhloul

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Eva Kiss

Sci 2022, 4(3), 34; https://doi.org/10.3390/sci4030034 - 05 Sep 2022

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 3173

Abstract

The latest technological development called Industry 4.0, like the previous industrial revolutions, has also brought a new challenge for people as a labor force because new technologies require new skills and competencies. By 2030 the existing generation in the labor market will have [...] Read more.

The latest technological development called Industry 4.0, like the previous industrial revolutions, has also brought a new challenge for people as a labor force because new technologies require new skills and competencies. By 2030 the existing generation in the labor market will have a skill gap threatening human replacement by machines. Based on bibliometric analysis and systematic literature review the main aims of this study are, on the one hand, to reveal the most related articles concerning skills, competencies, and Industry 4.0, and on the other hand, to identify the newset of skills and competencies which are essential for the future labor force. Determining the model of new skills and competencies in connection with Industry 4.0 technologies is the main novelty of the study. A survey carried out among the workers of mostly multinational organisations in Hungary has also been used to explore the level of awareness about those skills and Industry 4.0 related technologies, and this can be considered the significance of the empirical research. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Industry 4.0 – The Global Industrial Revolution: Achievements, Obstacles and Research Needs for the Digital Transformation of Industry)

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Open AccessArticle

Towards a Democratization of Data in the Context of Industry 4.0

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Sci 2022, 4(3), 29; https://doi.org/10.3390/sci4030029 - 14 Jul 2022

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 2121

Abstract

Data-driven transparency in end-to-end operations in real-time is seen as a key benefit of the fourth industrial revolution. In the context of a factory, it enables fast and precise diagnoses and corrections of deviations and, thus, contributes to the idea of an agile [...] Read more.

Data-driven transparency in end-to-end operations in real-time is seen as a key benefit of the fourth industrial revolution. In the context of a factory, it enables fast and precise diagnoses and corrections of deviations and, thus, contributes to the idea of an agile enterprise. Since a factory is a complex socio-technical system, multiple technical, organizational and cultural capabilities need to be established and aligned. In recent studies, the underlying broad accessibility of data and corresponding analytics tools are called “data democratization”. In this study, we examine the status quo of the relevant capabilities for data democratization in the manufacturing industry. (1) and outline the way forward. (2) The insights are based on 259 studies on the digital maturity of factories from multiple industries and regions of the world using the acatech Industrie 4.0 Maturity Index as a framework. For this work, a subset of the data was selected. (3) As a result, the examined factories show a lack of capabilities across all dimensions of the framework (IT systems, resources, organizational structure, culture). (4) Thus, we conclude that the outlined implementation approach needs to comprise the technical backbone for a data pipeline as well as capability building and an organizational transformation. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Industry 4.0 – The Global Industrial Revolution: Achievements, Obstacles and Research Needs for the Digital Transformation of Industry)

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Review

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Open AccessReview

Towards the Next Decade of Industrie 4.0 – Current State in Research and Adoption and Promising Development Paths from a German Perspective

by

Johannes Winter

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Anna Frey

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Jan Biehler

Sci 2022, 4(3), 31; https://doi.org/10.3390/sci4030031 - 11 Aug 2022

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1846

Abstract

Considering the first ten years of Industrie 4.0 in Germany—the digital transformation of industry towards the goal of increased manufacturing productivity and mass customization—significant progress has been achieved. However, future efforts are required. This review first evaluates the status quo of implementation and [...] Read more.

Considering the first ten years of Industrie 4.0 in Germany—the digital transformation of industry towards the goal of increased manufacturing productivity and mass customization—significant progress has been achieved. However, future efforts are required. This review first evaluates the status quo of implementation and research in Germany and finds that large-scale companies have proceeded faster than small- and middle-sized enterprises. Currently, regardless of their size, companies have in common a shortage of qualified specialists, coupled with a lack of adequate base technologies for Industrie 4.0 and an insufficient digital mindset. The creation of platform-based digital business models is particularly lagging behind, despite high research interest. This review subsequently identifies three research-driven fields of action that are particularly important for the future of Industrie 4.0: (1) resilience of value networks in the strategic area of sovereignty, (2) Open-Source as a driver for the strategic area of interoperability, and (3) the strategic combination of digitalization and sustainability as a basis for sustainable business models in the strategic area of sustainability. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Industry 4.0 – The Global Industrial Revolution: Achievements, Obstacles and Research Needs for the Digital Transformation of Industry)

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Open AccessReview

Development and Practice of Industrie 4.0 in China—Practical Experience of a German Industrial Software Company in China

by

Kuan-Lun Lee

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Andrea Roesinger

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Uwe Hommel

Sci 2022, 4(3), 28; https://doi.org/10.3390/sci4030028 - 13 Jul 2022

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 2524

Abstract

Industrie 4.0 has stirred turbulences in China since its birth in 2011. The struggles of the Chinese manufacturing enterprises towards realizing and adapting Industrie 4.0 in their production processes have given us many new perceptions. These insights and findings can in turn serve [...] Read more.

Industrie 4.0 has stirred turbulences in China since its birth in 2011. The struggles of the Chinese manufacturing enterprises towards realizing and adapting Industrie 4.0 in their production processes have given us many new perceptions. These insights and findings can in turn serve as inputs for academics and policy makers to structure or fine tune the development of the next generation of Industrie 4.0. The authors of this paper summarize the knowledge and understandings from their personal engagement assisting the Chinese manufacturing enterprises with digitalization in their production processes. A real-life example shows how a typical Chinese mid-size manufacturing enterprise ended up with new business models when they started out the digitalization journey with a simple goal to increase efficiency. We conclude that the Chinese market will continue to be relevant for the future development of Industrie 4.0. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Industry 4.0 – The Global Industrial Revolution: Achievements, Obstacles and Research Needs for the Digital Transformation of Industry)

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Open AccessReview

Ten Years of Industrie 4.0

by

Henning Kagermann

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Wolfgang Wahlster

Sci 2022, 4(3), 26; https://doi.org/10.3390/sci4030026 - 28 Jun 2022

Cited by 320 | Viewed by 4553

Abstract

A decade after its introduction, Industrie 4.0 has been established globally as the dominant paradigm for the digital transformation of the manufacturing industry. Amalgamating research-based results and practical experience from the German industry, this contribution reviews the progress made in implementing Industrie 4.0 [...] Read more.

A decade after its introduction, Industrie 4.0 has been established globally as the dominant paradigm for the digital transformation of the manufacturing industry. Amalgamating research-based results and practical experience from the German industry, this contribution reviews the progress made in implementing Industrie 4.0 and identifies future fields of action from a technological and application-oriented perspective. Putting the human in the center, Industrie 4.0 is the basis for data-based value creation, innovative business models, and agile forms of organization. Today, in the German manufacturing industry, the Internet of Things and cyber–physical production systems are a reality in newly built factories, and the connectivity of machinery has been significantly increased in existing factories. Now, the trends of industrial AI, edge computing up to the edge cloud, 5G in the factory, team robotics, autonomous intralogistics systems, and trustworthy data infrastructures must be leveraged to strengthen resilience, sovereignty, semantic interoperability, and sustainability. This enables the creation of digital innovation ecosystems that ensure long-term adaptability in a volatile economic and geopolitical environment. In sum, this review represents a comprehensive assessment of the status quo and identifies what is needed in the future to reap the rewards of the groundwork done in the first ten years of Industrie 4.0. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Industry 4.0 – The Global Industrial Revolution: Achievements, Obstacles and Research Needs for the Digital Transformation of Industry)

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Open AccessConcept Paper

Digital Factory Transformation from a Servitization Perspective: Fields of Action for Developing Internal Smart Services

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Sci 2023, 5(2), 22; https://doi.org/10.3390/sci5020022 - 16 May 2023

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1041

Abstract

In recent years, a complex set of dynamic developments driven by both the economy and the emergence of digital technologies has put pressure on manufacturing companies to adapt. The concept of servitization, i.e., the shift from a product-centric to a service-centric value creation [...] Read more.

In recent years, a complex set of dynamic developments driven by both the economy and the emergence of digital technologies has put pressure on manufacturing companies to adapt. The concept of servitization, i.e., the shift from a product-centric to a service-centric value creation logic, can help manufacturing companies stabilize their business in such volatile times. Existing academic literature investigates the potential and challenges of servitization and the associated development of data-based services, so-called smart services, with a view to external market performance. However, with the increasing use of digital technologies in manufacturing and the development of internal smart services based on them, we argue that the existing insights on external servitization are also of interest for internal transformation. In this paper, we identify key findings from service literature, apply them to digital factory transformation, and structure them into six fields of action along the dimensions of people, technology, and organization. As a result, recommendations for designing digital factory transformation in manufacturing companies are derived from the perspective of servitization and developing internal smart services. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Industry 4.0 – The Global Industrial Revolution: Achievements, Obstacles and Research Needs for the Digital Transformation of Industry)

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