Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: https://hdl.handle.net/10419/310278 
Year of Publication: 
2022
Citation: 
[Journal:] Logistics [ISSN:] 2305-6290 [Volume:] 6 [Issue:] 4 [Article No.:] 69 [Year:] 2022 [Pages:] 1-20
Publisher: 
MDPI, Basel
Abstract: 
Background: Industry 4.0 is a burgeoning research area that has been addressed by many research entities. However, the literature shows that the industrial sector lacks the awareness and knowledge needed to comply with Industry 4.0 implications, particularly in developing countries. Methods: This study evaluates the status of small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in Jordan concerning Industry 4.0. Four criteria are assessed, including Industry 4.0 readiness, maturity, drivers, and barriers. Samples of SME respondents and Industry 4.0 experts are surveyed using an online questionnaire. Results: The results show that SMEs in Jordan are not mature enough nor ready to apply Industry 4.0. For the readiness dimension, SME respondents and experts agreed that the Jordanian SMEs' status is between having initiatives in the pilot phase or implementing concepts to low degrees, except for autonomous workpiece and smart product aspects, in which Jordanian SMEs are behind due to financial and technological reasons. It was found that none of the Industry 4.0 investigated technologies have reached maturity levels. Customer requirements, cost reduction, competitors' practice, productivity improvement, and quality improvement are found to be the major influencing drivers for Industry 4.0, while a lack of awareness and knowledge is found to be the crucial barrier hampering Industry 4.0 implementation. Conclusions: Jordan needs country-scale initiatives for the implementation of groundbreaking Industry 4.0 development, incorporating government agencies, industrial parties, and experts, relying on Industry 4.0's readiness and practice status as a starting point, and considering the influential drivers and barriers to steer the development process.
Subjects: 
barriers
developing countries
digital transformation
drivers
Industry 4.0
maturity models
readiness
small and medium enterprises
Persistent Identifier of the first edition: 
Creative Commons License: 
cc-by Logo
Document Type: 
Article
Appears in Collections:

Files in This Item:
File
Size





Items in EconStor are protected by copyright, with all rights reserved, unless otherwise indicated.