A Systematic Approach to Design Product Traceability in Industry 4.0: Insights from the Ceramic Industry

Departing from a case in the table and ornamental ceramics industry, we propose a comprehensive approach to design product traceability for Industry 4.0. Our design-science research approach includes a review of traceability technologies and participative enterprise modeling. We find benefits in combining Business Process Modeling Notation (BPMN) and Goal-oriented Requirement Language (GRL) representations to (1) improve communication in complex ISD scenarios, (2) promote reflection by experts with different backgrounds, and (3) reach consensus in a solution that addresses the goals of multiple stakeholders. The resulting model combines technologies in different stages of product lifecycle. Depending on each stage and strategic intention, the identification code can be embedded in the product, transport, or package. Our contribution can assist managers in the creation of digital ecosystems to support traceability integration at (1) technological, (2) vertical, and (3) horizontal levels that are required by the fourth industrial revolution

A maturity model for digital transformation

Various disruptive digital technologies such as IoT, Artificial Intelligence, Big Data and Analytics, 3D Printing, Augmented Reality, Cybersecurity, Clouding, Autonomous Robots, Simulation, Horizontal and Vertical Integration challenge the traditional means of doing business. Also, factors such as fierce price competition due to price transparency, the increased demand for customized product and services, and so on force organizations to adapt to the rapid change in digital technologies. However, many companies have doubts about where to start their transformation process. In order to develop a roadmap, the companies should first identify their weaknesses and strengths in the context of digital transformation. Maturity models have been used for years in order to identify companies’ weaknesses and strengths. In this work, we proposed one such maturity model to determine the current readiness level of the companies in the context of digital transformation. Overall, we defined 5 dimensions and developed/adopted 76 questions for assessing digital maturity. These dimensions include “Leadership”, “Strategy”, “People”, Partnership and Resources”, and “Product, Process, and Services”. The proposed maturity model is among the few models that are based on sound theoretical frameworks already validated in earlier studies and/or widely used in the literature and practic

Development Trends and Economic Assessment of the Integration Processes on the Metals Market

In the present paper, reasons for the increased interest in industrial policy in both developed and developing countries are explained. The systematisation of the results of the development of Russian industry from 1989 to 2014 showed a lack of systematic selection of its priorities, preventing the formation of a strategic vector of industrial policy. The target diversity of the industrial policy is established at the different economic development stages of the country. In the context of economic sanctions against Russia, it is shown that the emergence of a new industrial policy vector is connected to the need for import substitution and concomitant changes in the development model of the domestic economy. The dynamics and characteristics of the industrial development area are shown by the example of a highly developed region like the Central Urals. The total level of organisational innovation activity continues to be low and composes only 12%, although in the manufacturing sector this index is higher than the regional economy index by four absolute percentage points. The industrial policy of the Central Urals is analysed and innovation drivers of the industrial sector of the regional economy are established. The possibilities of the defence, civil engineering, mining, chemical/pharmaceutical and forestry complexes of the Sverdlovsk Region to implement its import substitution policy are explained. The most significant investment projects that will reduce the import dependence of the regional economy are presented. The possibilities of the research sector and created innovation infrastructure of the region in solving this problem are shown. It is necessary to develop the regional laws on the elaboration of industrial policy according to the basic regulations of the Federal Law “On Industrial Policy in the Russian Federation.”This article was prepared with support of the Grant of the Russian Foundation for Humanities No. 14-32-01030

A blockchain-based framework for trusted quality data sharing towards zero-defect manufacturing

There is a current wave of a new generation of digital solutions based on intelligent systems, hybrid digital twins and AI-driven optimization tools to assure quality in smart factories. Such digital solutions heavily depend on quality-related information within the supply chain business ecosystem to drive zero-waste value chains. To empower zero-waste value chain strategies with meaningful, reliable, and trustful data, there must be a solution for end-to-end industrial data traceability, trust, and security across multiple process chains or even inter-organizational supply chains. In this paper, we first present Product, Process, and Data quality services to drive zero-waste value chain strategies. Following this, we present the Trusted Framework (TF), which is a key enabler for the secure and effective sharing of quality-related information within the supply chain business ecosystem, and thus for quality optimization actions towards zero-defect manufacturing. The TF specification includes the data model and format of the Process/Product/Data (PPD) Quality Hallmark, the OpenAPI exposed to factory system and a comprehensive Identity Management layer, for secure horizontal- and vertical quality data integration. The PPD hallmark and the TF already address some of the industrial needs to have a trusted approach to share quality data between the different stakeholders of the production chain to empower zero-waste value chain strategies.publishedVersio

Investigating Supply Chains Models and Enabling Technologies Towards Collaborative Networks

This research employs an extensive multiple case studies analysis to identify the most important business models affecting supply chain configurations and related enabling technologies towards the creation of collaborative networks. The results obtained from the investigation of 24 companies of manufacturing and process industry, informed by literature, identify four ‘design principles’ of business models, i.e. Personalized production, Servitization, Decentralized and modular production, and Recycle, Re-use and Sustainability. Each model is further described and discussed at the interplay between digitalization and collaborative network practices at supply chain level, showing that adopting one or a combination of the four design principles allows to actuate some of the most important features of collaboration like Vertical integration or networking of smart production systems, Horizontal integration through global value chain networks, Through-engineering across the entire value chain, Acceleration of manufacturing and Digitalization of products and services

A leadership model for e-government transformation

Since the late 1990’s governments have invested aggressively in Information and Communications Technology (ICT). This trend has paved the way for moving into the “Digital Age”. However, despite the wide use of ICT, research on e-government suggests that it has not yet reached its full potential of integration. In this paper the authors consider possible reasons for this potential shortfall, using models of adoption of innovations and relating them to egovernment. In doing so, a simple “Leadership Model” is proposed, that will lead to a profound understanding in transforming government and widen the agenda for further research. In particular, the aim of this paper is to highlight and explain of the gap that exist in the final stage of multi-stage-government maturity model by (Layne and Lee, 2001) and what is needed to overcome i

Integration of decision support systems to improve decision support performance

Decision support system (DSS) is a well-established research and development area. Traditional isolated, stand-alone DSS has been recently facing new challenges. In order to improve the performance of DSS to meet the challenges, research has been actively carried out to develop integrated decision support systems (IDSS). This paper reviews the current research efforts with regard to the development of IDSS. The focus of the paper is on the integration aspect for IDSS through multiple perspectives, and the technologies that support this integration. More than 100 papers and software systems are discussed. Current research efforts and the development status of IDSS are explained, compared and classified. In addition, future trends and challenges in integration are outlined. The paper concludes that by addressing integration, better support will be provided to decision makers, with the expectation of both better decisions and improved decision making processes

Reducing Causal Ambiguity in Acquisition Integration: Intermediate Goals as Mediators of Integration Decisions and Acquisition Performance

Integration is a difficult process, but one that is vital to acquisition performance. One reason acquirers encounter difficulties is that the integration process exhibits high levels of intrafirm linkage ambiguity – a lack of clarity of the causal link between integration decisions and their performance outcomes. We introduce the construct of intermediate goals as a mechanism that reduces intrafirm linkage ambiguity. Our structural model results, based on a sample of 129 horizontal acquisitions, indicate that the achievement of two intermediate goals (internal reorganization and market expansion) fully mediates the relationships between four integration decisions and acquisition performance

Increasing territorial capitalization by incorporation of small enterprises into clusters

Modernization of the Russian national economy depends on small businesses and their involvement in capitalization of the territorial potential. This article discusses methods, models, and mechanisms of territorial capitalization based on incorporation of small business enterprises into clusters along with medium- and large businesses. We propose an optimization model for assessing the efficiency of such clusters: our research has shown that this model can be applied for decision-making in regional strategic planning. Methodologically, this study relies on the theories of industrial development and economic growth, the industrial cluster theory, and the works of Russian and international researchers on mechanisms of management of territorial potential, their establishment and implementation. Capitalization of the region's resource potential manifests itself in the form of static and dynamic effects. We developed models of interaction between small and other businesses and structures within a cluster oriented towards territorial capitalization. We demonstrated that incorporation of a university into a cluster structure increases the innovative capacity of all cluster members. This research may be further expanded to study the mechanisms of involving small businesses operating in peripheral areas into clusters