A human-centric approach to Industry 4.0 adoption within the South African mining industry

Abstract

Due to its negative environmental impact, the mining industry has faced declining profit margins and a damaged public image. This is partly exacerbated by the slow adoption of Industry 4.0 technologies compared to other heavy industries such as manufacturing, oil, and gas. These technologies could improve both perception and actual environmental impact. This study explores how African Rainbow Minerals (ARM) can adopt Industry 4.0 technologies to improve productivity, public perception, and overall work environment while staying competitive.

A Systematic Literature Review (SLR) identified best practices for implementing Industry 4.0 technologies. A mixed-methods approach followed using qualitative and quantitative data from a survey of industry experts. The survey evaluated steps for implementing Industry 4.0, derived from the literature, and adapted them for the South African context. Experts rated each step in a proposed roadmap and provided feedback on necessary modifications. Qualitative responses were analysed using thematic analysis, which revealed three key themes: 1. Overall agreement on the importance of all steps, 2. Suggestions for additional steps 3. Some uncertainty or indifference toward the roadmap.

These themes highlight a consensus among respondents while identifying areas for improvement and feedback for refining the roadmap.

Through descriptive statistics, the study analysed quantitative responses, summarised them, and tested for significance through two-proportion hypothesis tests. The study also used Analysis of Variance, T-tests, and Chi-square tests to identify response differences across demographic groups (age, experience, and gender). These tests confirmed the robustness of the findings through demonstrated statistical significance testing. A pilot study refined the survey and ensured its validity and reliability by removing spelling errors and improving conciseness. The final results showed that most respondents supported the roadmap, with agreement rates between 87.1% and 96.8% for each question. No significant demographic differences were found, except for question 19, where more experienced respondents were more likely to agree that training services should be part of the system calibration, testing, and integration phase.

In conclusion, the participants mostly supported the roadmap, with only minor suggestions for improvement. Future iterations of the roadmap should consider these suggestions and reevaluate under similar conditions. These findings suggest that ARM can confidently proceed with Industry 4.0 implementation, with further iterations of the roadmap accounting for the expert feedback. Technology adoption is crucial for ARM to maintain competitiveness and enhance its operational efficiency in the evolving mining industry.