Technology enablers for the implementation of Industry 4.0 to traditional manufacturing sectors: A review

The traditional manufacturing sectors (footwear, textiles and clothing, furniture and toys, among others) are based on small and medium enterprises with limited capacity on investing in modern production technologies. Although these sectors rely heavily on product customization and short manufacturing cycles, they are still not able to take full advantage of the fourth industrial revolution. Industry 4.0 surfaced to address the current challenges of shorter product life-cycles, highly customized products and stiff global competition. The new manufacturing paradigm supports the development of modular factory structures within a computerized Internet of Things environment. With Industry 4.0, rigid planning and production processes can be revolutionized. However, the computerization of manufacturing has a high degree of complexity and its implementation tends to be expensive, which goes against the reality of SMEs that power the traditional sectors. This paper reviews the main scientific-technological advances that have been developed in recent years in traditional sectors with the aim of facilitating the transition to the new industry standard.This research was supported by the Spanish Research Agency (AEI) and the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) under the project CloudDriver4Industry TIN2017-89266-R

Digital transformation of the Portuguese footwear industry

Technology is evolving the fastest it has ever been, and not following innovation can be life-threatening for any company. The Fourth Industrial Revolution is based on interconnection, transparency, and decentralization to achieve smart factories. Using Industry 4.0 technological pillars is essential to transforming industrial production, increasing productivity, efficiency, and quality while reducing costs and waste. The footwear industry has significant importance in the Portuguese economy. As part of the fashion industry, it is expected to innovate and create trends while maintaining classiness and timelessness, making it unique and complex. Furthermore, since Industry 4.0 is a currently highly studied and talked-about topic, it only makes sense to understand the adoption state of Industry 4.0 technology in such a complex industry as the Portuguese footwear industry. The study used qualitative exploratory research, collecting insight from footwear companies and the sector associations, through direct observations, via shopfloor visits, and semi-structured interviews, where key participants discussed the level of Industry 4.0 implementation. Despite having motivation, there is a long way to go. Although some of the technologies of Industry 4.0 are heavily utilized, such as simulation and horizontal and vertical integration, companies need more Industry 4.0 literacy to move towards an integral and effective implementation. A cluster composed mainly of microenterprises, paired with strong resistance to change and where the handmade aspect is valued, hinders the adoption of Industry 4.0. Although changing slowly, it is an industry with the potential to participate in Industry 4.0.A tecnologia está a evoluir mais rápido do que nunca, e não acompanhar a inovação pode ser um risco de vida para qualquer empresa. A Quarta Revolução Industrial baseia-se na interconexão, transparência e descentralização com o objetivo de alcançar fábricas inteligentes. A utilização dos pilares tecnológicos da Indústria 4.0 é essencial para transformar a produção industrial, aumentando a produtividade, a eficiência e a qualidade, reduzindo custos e desperdícios. A indústria do calçado tem uma importância significativa na economia portuguesa. Como parte da indústria da moda, espera-se que inove e crie tendências, mantendo a classe e a intemporalidade, tornando-a única e complexa. Além disso, sendo a Indústria 4.0 um tema atualmente muito estudado e falado, faz sentido perceber o estado de adoção da tecnologia da Indústria 4.0 numa indústria tão complexa como a indústria portuguesa de calçado. O estudo recorreu a uma investigação qualitativa exploratória, recolhendo informação junto das empresas de calçado e das associações do setor, através de observações diretas, via visitas ao chão de fábrica, e entrevistas semiestruturadas, onde os participantes foram questionados sobre Indústria 4.0. Apesar da motivação, há um longo caminho a percorrer. Embora algumas tecnologias da Indústria 4.0 sejam fortemente utilizadas, como simulação e integração horizontal e vertical, as empresas precisam de mais conhecimento de Indústria 4.0, para uma implementação integral e eficaz. Um cluster composto principalmente por microempresas, aliado a uma forte resistência à mudança e onde o aspecto artesanal é valorizado, dificulta a adoção da Indústria 4.0. Apesar da lenta mudança, é uma indústria com potencial para participar na Indústria 4.0

Digital economy and internationalization

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Apparel 4.0: A Review of the Apparel Industry’s Adoption of Frontier Technologies

The Textile & Apparel (T&A) industry has been recognized for its modest shifts. This review paper, however, has examined the state of the apparel industry’s technology adoption, with special reference to 4IR technologies and fast-evolving market preferences in the post-pandemic era. Based on an extensive literature survey, the study concludes that the fourth industrial revolution (4IR) technologies have started gaining ground and disrupting the global apparel value chain. Likewise, Covid-19 too has brought considerable disruptions, driving organizational changes faster than ever. On one hand, Covid-19 has caused a significant adverse impact on the apparel industry, impacting brands, producers, and workers across the world. On the other hand, it has accelerated the adoption of frontier technologies by the industry. The Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR) is transforming the apparel sector in design, development, production, supply chain, and marketing value segments. Besides process automation, frontier 4IR technologies such as 3D knitting and printing, robotics and intelligent manufacturing, virtual and augmented reality, artificial intelligence, business analytics, IoT, etc., have started shaping the future of the T&A industry. The paper should be of interest to both market actors (e.g., producers and marketers) and market facilitators (e.g., policymakers and academia). Keywords:Textile & Apparel (T&A) industry, Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR), COVID-19, frontier technologies, fashion cycle, automation, biotechnology, apparel 4.0 DOI: 10.7176/EJBM/14-22-04 Publication date: November 30th 2022

Impacts of the implementation of Industry´s 4.0 technologies in the portuguese footwear industry

The first three industrial revolutions came about as a result of mechanization, electricity and IT. It is safe to state that a fourth revolution is currently taking place in manufacturing, with it being generally branded as Industry 4.0. These Cyber-Physical Systems comprise smart machines, storage systems and production facilities capable of autonomously exchanging information, triggering actions and controlling each other independently. The present investigation takes this premise into account and focuses in pursuing what are the main implications of the implementation of Industry´s 4.0 technologies in the Portuguese Footwear Industry. In order to lay the foundations for the study, an extensive literature review was executed. This was followed by a qualitative and exploratory investigation, based on twelve interviews with various relevant actors of the Portuguese footwear scene. The interviews resulted in insightful conclusions. Firstly, it is possible to notice that the Portuguese Footwear industry is generally well equipped and informed. Generally, the manufacturers are aware of the new technologies that are made available, being that there are already successful examples of companies using them. The study has highlighted the importance for companies to develop an extensive evaluation regarding their specific needs in order to better decide in which technologies to invest. The path is being designed in order to continuously simplify technologies, so that they are easier to work with. The main constraint, to the present day, is linked with finding skilled workforce to perform tasks at the shop floor level and also with the generation of enough value that allows the manufacturers to invest in more advanced technology

An overview on European Manufacturing research visions and roadmaps as an answer to economical and societal challenges and opportunities

This document provides an overview on European Manufacturing research vision and roadmaps. In 2017, a year of crossroads for the research community, a joint and collaborative Europe-wide effort is needed to define the main research priorities. This paper provides an overview on the ongoing roadmapping work and proposes some research lines that could become the core of the European manufacturing research strategy

Empowering supply chains with Industry 4.0 technologies to face megatrends

This paper investigates how current megatrends (i.e., aging population, growing urbanization, shifts in consumer demands, geopolitical shifts, depletion of natural resources, climate change) are changing the supply chain landscape and the role of Industry 4.0 (I4.0) technologies to support alignment with these changes. Building on contingency theory, the study employs focus-group interviews with various experts to generate new insights into fitting supply chain capabilities and enabling technologies. Data collected in the focus groups helped us to identify five supply chain capabilities as prevalent and mostly fitting the external contingencies, i.e., customer-driven, urban-centered, resource-efficient, fast reactive, and human-centered supply chain. Moreover, this study highlights and compares the potential of I4.0 technologies and their applications in supporting specific supply chain capabilities. The findings of this study can inform supply chain managers in the definition of capabilities to be enhanced at the supply chain level and contribute toward understanding the extent of I4.0 technologies in empowering supply chains to face turbulent and changing conditions

Illusion of Consumption, Architectural Rebellion: Unraveling the Maze of Consumption

Consumerism was born in the industrial age, and has been criticized since that time, but it still exists and flourishes in new forms with the information age. Consumption affects values and life, spurring economic growth and causing ecological crises. Therefore, a critical discussion of consumerism must continue. This thesis proposes a space within an existing mall that raises people\u27s awareness to be vigilant against the control of consumerism by exposing how marketing packages goods and manipulates people\u27s psychology to guide consumption. An ideal mall to host this program is the Changsha International Finance Square, a large mixed-use building in the most flourishing street in Changsha, a medium-sized city in China. Existing malls reinforce traditional consumerist messages. The hierarchy of brands is expressed in architecture through placement and access to valuable resources, such as layout, traffic, patterns and more. Beyond physical space, with the development of the Internet, consumerism has emerged in all parts of life, analyzing data from phones and understanding of consumer psychology to manipulate people into buying even more. It shares similar characteristics with traditional consumerism, but promotes fanatical consumption in a more complex form. Changsha, in recent years, has become an internet celebrity city popular among the younger generation, who are more likely to be lured and manipulated by internet consumerism. This thesis explores the characteristics of traditional consumerism and internet-driven spending, transforming marketing methods into spatial maneuvers. By deconstructing the hidden connotations of consumerism in architecture and daily life, the thesis seeks to reconstruct these elements using an architectural language that consumers can perceive. Ultimately, the goal is to create an experiential space within a shopping mall that questions the nature of consumerism and teaches consumers how to recognize this manipulation in the wild