Systematic Literature Review of Industry 4.0 Implementation Frameworks Focussing on Applicability in Manufacturing SMEs

ndustry 4.0 (I4.0) is not an exceedingly new concept. Since the term was coined in Germany in 2011 it has come to encompass many enabling technologies around the digitalisation of manufacturing processes growing further into the service industry and beyond. The need for businesses to begin to explore these options to reap the benefits of I4.0 is growing and while many larger organisations are maturing in their adoption many SMEs are not. This paper conducts a systematic literature review (SLR) of the tools available to organisations looking to implement I4.0. The research will focus on tools are around the areas of readiness models, maturity models and frameworks that provide detail on how to begin the journey to I4.0 implementation. The key research questions to be answered are if these tools cater to the unique needs of manufacturing SME’s and the challenges they face. What sets this SLR apart from other analysis is the identification of a research gap for a detailed framework for manufacturing SMEs to implement I4.0 in an agile and sustainable way. As the manufacturing world is changing and consumers are making more informed choices about what they buy with a view towards sustainability how can I4.0 help manufacturing SMEs operate in a sustainable way whilst remaining agile to changing economic conditions. This SLR will form the basis for further research into this area to support SMEs on their I4.0 adoption journey.