The Digital REadiness Assessment MaturitY (DREAMY) framework to guide manufacturing companies towards a digitalisation roadmap

Abstract

Digital technologies are considered the main drivers for the transformation of the manufacturing industry. To effectively navigate this wave of transformation, companies need to understand their current maturity state regarding implemented technologies and organisational processes across various functions. However, many organisations struggle to assess their digital status quo. Addressing this gap, this paper proposes a framework to help manufacturing companies become aware of their digital maturity level and guide them toward a digitalisation roadmap. The framework consists of a maturity model, the Digital Readiness Assessment MaturitY (DREAMY), inspired by the Capability Maturity Model Integration (CMMI), and a digitalisation roadmap tool. The research follows the design research methodology, combining a literature review, expert consultations, and validation through multiple industrial cases to develop, test, and refine the framework. The proposed framework enables companies to assess their current digital maturity, identify strengths and weaknesses, and discover opportunities for improvement, supporting a conscious transition toward Industry 4.0 and the forthcoming Industry 5.0 paradigm