Industry 4.0 readiness assessment for South African industries

Abstract

Technological advancements related to the fourth industrial revolution are causing disruptive changes that are widely felt at national, industry, and company level. Industry 4.0, an initiative driving the fourth industrial revolution, is happening at an exponential speed, and embracing and adopting it is unavoidable for survival and competiveness. Although noticeable progress has been made in the use of Industry 4.0 technologies, systems, and processes in developed countries, there is uncertainty about the preparedness of businesses and industries in developing countries, including South Africa, to adopt Industry 4.0. The purpose of this research paper is to explore the readiness of South African industry in this regard. A questionnaire instrument with quantitative criteria compiled by the Impulse Foundation of Verband Deutscher Maschinen- und Anlagenbau was used in this study. The exploratory study revealed that South African industry is faced with significant challenges in Industry 4.0 strategy formulation and equipment infrastructure to support Industry 4.0 requirements. The assessment pointed out that Industry 4.0 skills exist in pockets in South Africa, and so a further study to reveal more detail on Industry 4.0 skills requirements is essentialTegnologiese ontwikkelings met betrekking tot die vierde industriële rewolusie veroorsaak verreikende ontwrigtende verandering op nasionale, industrie-, en besigheidsvlak. Industrie 4.0, 'n inisiatief wat die Vierde Industriële Rewolusie aanvuur, geskied teen eksponensiële spoed en dit is noodsaaklik om dit te aanvaar en toe te pas, met die oog op oorlewing en mededingendheid. Alhoewel daar beduidende vordering is met betrekking tot die implementering van Industrie 4.0 in ontwikkelde lande, is daar onsekerheid oor die gereedheid van ontwikkelende lande, insluitend Suid-Afrika, om Industrie 4.0 te implementeer. Die doel van hierdie artikel is om die gereedheid van Suid-Afrikaanse industrieë in hierdie opsig te verken. ʼn Vraelys-instrument met kwantitatiewe kriteria wat deur die Impulse Foundation van Verband Deutscher Maschinen- und Anlagenbau saamgestel is, is in hierdie studie gebruik. Die verkennende studie het getoon dat die Suid-Afrikaanse industrie beduidende uitdagings in die gesig staar wat betref strategieformulering en toerustinginfrastruktuur om Industie 4.0-eise te bevredig. Die ondersoek het getoon dat Industrie 4.0-vaardighede in geïsoleerde situasies in Suid-Afrika bestaan, en daarom is verdere studie om meer oor die vereistes vir Industrie 4.0-vaardighede te wete te kom, dringend nodig