Industry 4.0 Challenges and Implementation Strategies: Benchmarked Results From Food and Beverage Manufacturing Industries in Tanzania

ABSTRACT The study assessed the challenges and strategies of Industry 4.0 (I4.0) in Tanzania's food and beverage manufacturing industries (FBMIs). Pertinent data were collected through a closed‐ended questionnaire from 103 medium and large FBMIs. Data validity and reliability were tested using...

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Main Authors: Ismail W. R. Taifa, Ikupa Mwakagamba
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2025-05-01
Series:Engineering Reports
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1002/eng2.70168
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author Ismail W. R. Taifa
Ikupa Mwakagamba
author_facet Ismail W. R. Taifa
Ikupa Mwakagamba
author_sort Ismail W. R. Taifa
collection DOAJ
description ABSTRACT The study assessed the challenges and strategies of Industry 4.0 (I4.0) in Tanzania's food and beverage manufacturing industries (FBMIs). Pertinent data were collected through a closed‐ended questionnaire from 103 medium and large FBMIs. Data validity and reliability were tested using SPSS 23, where p‐values < 0.05 for validity testing and Cronbach Alpha value of > 0.7 were determined for the reliability of the collected questionnaires. The normality of the data was tested using Kolmogorov–Smirnov and Shapiro–Wilk tests. The study found that employees were more informed about the benefits of adopting I4.0, with a mean score of 4.78. The prospect of I4.0 improving industry competitiveness on the international stage was ranked second in terms of awareness. Also, there was no significant difference in awareness levels for nine I4.0 technologies among the FBMIs. Most FBMIs had not fully established a roadmap for using I4.0 technologies. Findings showed that challenges have no significant differences, for example, for financial challenges (χ2 = 1.121, p = 0.571 > 0.05), return on investment and cost–benefit analysis for implementing I4.0 technologies with (χ2 = 0.027, p = 0.987 > 0.05), identifying and securing funds for implementing I4.0 technologies (with χ2 = 1.918, p = 0.383 > 0.05), among others. Implementing I4.0‐related technologies is high; the findings showed that the overall mean score was 3.75, corresponding to “level 4” on the five‐point Likert awareness scale. Also, some challenges should be tackled to implement I4.0‐related technologies smoothly. Consequently, such challenges can be addressed by implementing the proposed strategies. The study suggests that stakeholders must implement relevant technologies fully despite FBMIs' high I4.0 awareness. Lastly, the study proposed strategies for implementing I4.0 in the FBMIs, including embracing data‐driven decision‐making and training leaders and top management regarding the benefits of I4.0 implementation. Strategies should be supported by top management commitment and adequate budget allocation.
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spelling doaj-art-86aeda243faa404182f2d260c8a71b8f2025-08-20T03:08:57ZengWileyEngineering Reports2577-81962025-05-0175n/an/a10.1002/eng2.70168Industry 4.0 Challenges and Implementation Strategies: Benchmarked Results From Food and Beverage Manufacturing Industries in TanzaniaIsmail W. R. Taifa0Ikupa Mwakagamba1Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering College of Engineering and Technology, University of Dar es Salaam Dar es Salaam TanzaniaDepartment of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering College of Engineering and Technology, University of Dar es Salaam Dar es Salaam TanzaniaABSTRACT The study assessed the challenges and strategies of Industry 4.0 (I4.0) in Tanzania's food and beverage manufacturing industries (FBMIs). Pertinent data were collected through a closed‐ended questionnaire from 103 medium and large FBMIs. Data validity and reliability were tested using SPSS 23, where p‐values < 0.05 for validity testing and Cronbach Alpha value of > 0.7 were determined for the reliability of the collected questionnaires. The normality of the data was tested using Kolmogorov–Smirnov and Shapiro–Wilk tests. The study found that employees were more informed about the benefits of adopting I4.0, with a mean score of 4.78. The prospect of I4.0 improving industry competitiveness on the international stage was ranked second in terms of awareness. Also, there was no significant difference in awareness levels for nine I4.0 technologies among the FBMIs. Most FBMIs had not fully established a roadmap for using I4.0 technologies. Findings showed that challenges have no significant differences, for example, for financial challenges (χ2 = 1.121, p = 0.571 > 0.05), return on investment and cost–benefit analysis for implementing I4.0 technologies with (χ2 = 0.027, p = 0.987 > 0.05), identifying and securing funds for implementing I4.0 technologies (with χ2 = 1.918, p = 0.383 > 0.05), among others. Implementing I4.0‐related technologies is high; the findings showed that the overall mean score was 3.75, corresponding to “level 4” on the five‐point Likert awareness scale. Also, some challenges should be tackled to implement I4.0‐related technologies smoothly. Consequently, such challenges can be addressed by implementing the proposed strategies. The study suggests that stakeholders must implement relevant technologies fully despite FBMIs' high I4.0 awareness. Lastly, the study proposed strategies for implementing I4.0 in the FBMIs, including embracing data‐driven decision‐making and training leaders and top management regarding the benefits of I4.0 implementation. Strategies should be supported by top management commitment and adequate budget allocation.https://doi.org/10.1002/eng2.70168challenges and strategiesfood and beverage industriesindustry 4.0manufacturing industries
spellingShingle Ismail W. R. Taifa
Ikupa Mwakagamba
Industry 4.0 Challenges and Implementation Strategies: Benchmarked Results From Food and Beverage Manufacturing Industries in Tanzania
Engineering Reports
challenges and strategies
food and beverage industries
industry 4.0
manufacturing industries
title Industry 4.0 Challenges and Implementation Strategies: Benchmarked Results From Food and Beverage Manufacturing Industries in Tanzania
title_full Industry 4.0 Challenges and Implementation Strategies: Benchmarked Results From Food and Beverage Manufacturing Industries in Tanzania
title_fullStr Industry 4.0 Challenges and Implementation Strategies: Benchmarked Results From Food and Beverage Manufacturing Industries in Tanzania
title_full_unstemmed Industry 4.0 Challenges and Implementation Strategies: Benchmarked Results From Food and Beverage Manufacturing Industries in Tanzania
title_short Industry 4.0 Challenges and Implementation Strategies: Benchmarked Results From Food and Beverage Manufacturing Industries in Tanzania
title_sort industry 4 0 challenges and implementation strategies benchmarked results from food and beverage manufacturing industries in tanzania
topic challenges and strategies
food and beverage industries
industry 4.0
manufacturing industries
url https://doi.org/10.1002/eng2.70168
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