Title: Challenges towards manufacturing transformation to Industry 4.0

Authors: Choudhury Abul Anam Rashed; Mst. Nasima Bagum; Syeda Kumrun Nahar; Md. Mehedi Hasan Kibria

Addresses: Department of Industrial and Production Engineering, Shahjalal University of Science and Technology, Sylhet-3114, Bangladesh ' Department of Industrial and Production Engineering, Shahjalal University of Science and Technology, Sylhet-3114, Bangladesh ' Department of Industrial and Production Engineering, Shahjalal University of Science and Technology, Sylhet-3114, Bangladesh ' Department of Industrial and Production Engineering, Shahjalal University of Science and Technology, Sylhet-3114, Bangladesh

Abstract: To cope with the rapid growth of technology, the manufacturing sector needs to incorporate updated technology and innovations. Several obstacles need to be addressed before the implementation of the updated technology. The research objectives are to identify the challenges hindering the transformation towards I4.0 and prioritise the challenges. Twelve challenges are determined by an extensive literature review and consultation with relevant experts. A semi-structured questionnaire-based survey was performed in the manufacturing sector. Based on the obtained data from 125 respondents, statistical analysis was performed using Microsoft Excel and SPSS 25. Based on the results, a conceptual model was developed and tested with PLS-SEM 4.0. The results showed that lack of sufficient capital, high expenditure in implementation, legislative problems, insufficient technological knowledge, lack of proper structure, deficiency of skilled workforce, cheap labour, etc., are the major challenges in implementing cutting-edge technology and innovations in the manufacturing sector.

Keywords: challenges; cutting edge technology; Industry 4.0; I4.0; manufacturing transformation; digital and e-manufacturing.

DOI: 10.1504/IJMTM.2025.145948

International Journal of Manufacturing Technology and Management, 2025 Vol.39 No.3/4/5, pp.423 - 451

Received: 22 Nov 2023
Accepted: 07 May 2024
Published online: 30 Apr 2025 *

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