Sustainable Development and Technological Advancements in Industry 4.0: Overcoming Barriers in SME Sector Integration

The advent of Industry 4.0 has introduced transformative opportunities for the SME sector, particularly in enhancing operational efficiency, fostering sustainability, and enabling digital connectivity within manufacturing processes. This study examines key barriers faced by SMEs in adopting Industry...

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Main Authors: Ingaldi Manuela, Ulewicz Robert
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Sciendo 2025-03-01
Series:Management Systems in Production Engineering
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.2478/mspe-2025-0015
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author Ingaldi Manuela
Ulewicz Robert
author_facet Ingaldi Manuela
Ulewicz Robert
author_sort Ingaldi Manuela
collection DOAJ
description The advent of Industry 4.0 has introduced transformative opportunities for the SME sector, particularly in enhancing operational efficiency, fostering sustainability, and enabling digital connectivity within manufacturing processes. This study examines key barriers faced by SMEs in adopting Industry 4.0 technologies, including high initial investments, skills gaps in digital competencies, and logistical limitations in production infrastructure. It explores a collaborative platform model that facilitates resource sharing among SMEs to reduce individual costs, optimize technology access, and improve competency development. Findings highlight that while shared platforms can successfully mitigate certain financial and operational barriers, the scalability of such models faces limitations due to stakeholder interests and infrastructure constraints. This research provides insights into the critical role of technological advancements and sustainable practices in supporting SMEs’ Industry 4.0 transition and emphasizes the need for adaptive strategies to maintain integration viability as production demands evolve.
format Article
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institution Kabale University
issn 2450-5781
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publishDate 2025-03-01
publisher Sciendo
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series Management Systems in Production Engineering
spelling doaj-art-1dd040a48af242c196a352de98131e9d2025-08-20T03:45:45ZengSciendoManagement Systems in Production Engineering2450-57812025-03-0133114416210.2478/mspe-2025-0015Sustainable Development and Technological Advancements in Industry 4.0: Overcoming Barriers in SME Sector IntegrationIngaldi Manuela0Ulewicz Robert1Czestochowa University of TechnologyCzestochowa University of TechnologyThe advent of Industry 4.0 has introduced transformative opportunities for the SME sector, particularly in enhancing operational efficiency, fostering sustainability, and enabling digital connectivity within manufacturing processes. This study examines key barriers faced by SMEs in adopting Industry 4.0 technologies, including high initial investments, skills gaps in digital competencies, and logistical limitations in production infrastructure. It explores a collaborative platform model that facilitates resource sharing among SMEs to reduce individual costs, optimize technology access, and improve competency development. Findings highlight that while shared platforms can successfully mitigate certain financial and operational barriers, the scalability of such models faces limitations due to stakeholder interests and infrastructure constraints. This research provides insights into the critical role of technological advancements and sustainable practices in supporting SMEs’ Industry 4.0 transition and emphasizes the need for adaptive strategies to maintain integration viability as production demands evolve.https://doi.org/10.2478/mspe-2025-0015industry 4.0sme integrationdigital transformationcollaborative platformstechnology adoption barriers
spellingShingle Ingaldi Manuela
Ulewicz Robert
Sustainable Development and Technological Advancements in Industry 4.0: Overcoming Barriers in SME Sector Integration
Management Systems in Production Engineering
industry 4.0
sme integration
digital transformation
collaborative platforms
technology adoption barriers
title Sustainable Development and Technological Advancements in Industry 4.0: Overcoming Barriers in SME Sector Integration
title_full Sustainable Development and Technological Advancements in Industry 4.0: Overcoming Barriers in SME Sector Integration
title_fullStr Sustainable Development and Technological Advancements in Industry 4.0: Overcoming Barriers in SME Sector Integration
title_full_unstemmed Sustainable Development and Technological Advancements in Industry 4.0: Overcoming Barriers in SME Sector Integration
title_short Sustainable Development and Technological Advancements in Industry 4.0: Overcoming Barriers in SME Sector Integration
title_sort sustainable development and technological advancements in industry 4 0 overcoming barriers in sme sector integration
topic industry 4.0
sme integration
digital transformation
collaborative platforms
technology adoption barriers
url https://doi.org/10.2478/mspe-2025-0015
work_keys_str_mv AT ingaldimanuela sustainabledevelopmentandtechnologicaladvancementsinindustry40overcomingbarriersinsmesectorintegration
AT ulewiczrobert sustainabledevelopmentandtechnologicaladvancementsinindustry40overcomingbarriersinsmesectorintegration