Fortune favors the prepared: How SMEs approach business model innovations in Industry 4.0

Müller, Julian M.; Buliga, Oana; Voigt, Kai‐Ingo

doi:10.1016/j.techfore.2017.12.019

Cited by 924 publications

(880 citation statements)

References 101 publications

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“…In this context, industrial manufacturers should avoid implementing Industry 4.0 in the form of isolated applications [43]. Otherwise, synchronization and coordination with existing production equipment and processes may result in high complexity levels and costs, which can become especially challenging for SMEs [46].…”

Section: Organizational and Production Fitmentioning

confidence: 99%

What Drives the Implementation of Industry 4.0? The Role of Opportunities and Challenges in the Context of Sustainability

2018

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Abstract:The implementation of Industry 4.0 has a far-reaching impact on industrial value creation. Studies on its opportunities and challenges for companies are still scarce. However, the high practical and theoretical relevance of digital and connected manufacturing technologies implies that it is essential to understand the underlying dynamics of their implementation. Thus, this study examines the relevance of Industry 4.0-related opportunities and challenges as drivers for Industry 4.0 implementation in the context of sustainability, taking a differentiated perspective on varying company sizes, industry sectors, and the company's role as an Industry 4.0 provider or user. A research model comprising relevant Industry 4.0-related opportunities and challenges as antecedents for its implementation is hypothesized. In order to test the model, partial least square structural equation modeling is applied for a sample of 746 German manufacturing companies from five industry sectors. The results show that strategic, operational, as well as environmental and social opportunities are positive drivers of Industry 4.0 implementation, whereas challenges with regard to competitiveness and future viability as well as organizational and production fit impede its progress. Moreover, it is shown that the perception of Industry 4.0-related opportunities and challenges as antecedents to Industry 4.0 implementation depends on different company characteristics.

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Section: Organizational and Production Fitmentioning

confidence: 99%

What Drives the Implementation of Industry 4.0? The Role of Opportunities and Challenges in the Context of Sustainability

2018

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“…Industry 4.0, internationally known as the Industrial Internet of Things, describes an ongoing digitization of industrial value creation, especially relating to aspects such as vertical and horizontal interconnection across humans, machines, and products [1,2]. However, the exact definition of the term Industry 4.0 and its exact implications for different research disciplines need to be clarified in future research [3].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Comparably to Industry 4.0, similar approaches are emerging worldwide, for instance, the "Industrial Internet Consortium" in the United States (US) or "Made in China 2025" in China [4]. Industry 4.0 is expected to generate new business models, as well as increase the efficiency of processes [1,2,5]. Hereby, several characteristics, such as the company size, delineate between the targeted benefits of Industry 4.0 [6].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Current challenges, especially for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), may be reasons for offering or applying Industry 4.0-based services. In sum, SMEs have less been regarded in current Industry 4.0 research [1]. For example, offering or applying Industry 4.0-based services can assist to counteract the required cost reductions and increasing competitive pressure encountered by SMEs for developing such Industry 4.0 services.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…For example, offering or applying Industry 4.0-based services can assist to counteract the required cost reductions and increasing competitive pressure encountered by SMEs for developing such Industry 4.0 services. However, SMEs only have limited financing possibilities as compared to large companies [1,6]. Further, their access to trained personnel in the context of information technology (IT) is limited [7] and the integrations of humans into the concept of Industry 4.0 prove to be challenging [8,9].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Business Model Innovation of Industry 4.0 Solution Providers Towards Customer Process Innovation

Müller

Däschle

2018

Processes

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The article investigates the role of business model innovation by Industry 4.0 solution providers and their impact on process innovation of their customers. Industry 4.0 solution providers are hereby seen as the enablers and providers of Industry 4.0 technologies, which provide access to several potentials of Industry 4.0 technologies to their customers. In particular, the role of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) that provide solutions that are based on Industry 4.0 technologies for their customers are investigated, which in turn can improve and innovate their own processes. Frist, the article presents an overview of the current state of research and a brief theoretical background. Second, the article bases its findings on an empirical study of 111 Industry 4.0 providers from Germany that are SMEs. Analyzing the results of questionnaires, correlations between Industry 4.0 solutions and two perspectives are examined: benefits for the solution providers and benefits for process improvements and innovations of the customers. Subsequently, the article discusses these findings, closing the article with both managerial and research implications.

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Industry 4.0

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Fortune favors the prepared: How SMEs approach business model innovations in Industry 4.0

Cited by 924 publications

References 101 publications

What Drives the Implementation of Industry 4.0? The Role of Opportunities and Challenges in the Context of Sustainability

What Drives the Implementation of Industry 4.0? The Role of Opportunities and Challenges in the Context of Sustainability

Business Model Innovation of Industry 4.0 Solution Providers Towards Customer Process Innovation

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