Abstract

The emerging technologies referred to as "Industry 4.0" offer substantial competitive advantages in performance measures such as cost, quality, and time by enabling strategic and operational decision-making in manufacturing. The goal is to seamlessly connect physical and digital systems in real-time. However, Industry 4.0 research often focuses on literature reviews and conceptual frameworks, lacking the comprehensive, practical insights gained from actual implementation. This gap highlights the need for a practical framework for implementing Industry 4.0, similar to those found in lean literature.

This study proposes a digital value stream mapping case study to implement emerging technologies by mapping and investigating the journey of a manufacturing company undergoing Industry 4.0 transformation. The selected company has been digitally mapped for the implementation process and benefits obtained from emerging technologies, such as the Internet of Things (IoT), big data, cloud computing, augmented and virtual reality, AI/ML, collaborative robots and additive manufacturing (AM). The study emphasizes the importance of digital value stream mapping, providing real-life insights for practitioners and manufacturing companies embarking on the Industry 4.0 journey.