Abstract:

Technology and Digital transformations have been significantly disrupting and affecting business models, manufacturing processes, and corporate governance in the past decade. The constant improvements in information and communication technologies (ICT) infrastructure, and in analytical capabilities have fuelled a stream of innovation and changes at all levels of business models and value chains and the ability of companies to adopt and master them has become an element of competitive advantage in almost all economic sectors.The present study focuses on providing an overview and discussing the current status and the implications and challenges for Industry 4.0 adoption among European manufacturing SMEs.