LATAM and Spanish SME barriers to Industry 4.0

Purpose &- Existing studies are scarce, especially on the Industry 4.0 application to firms' innovation andcompetitiveness, and even more on the application to LATAM and Spanish SMEs. This paper tries to fill thisgap by explaining the results of applying a systematic model, to understan...

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Detalles Bibliográficos
Autores: Lucas Ancillo, Antonio de, Gavrila Gavrila, Sorin, Fernández Del Castillo Díez, José Raúl|||0000-0003-4335-2586, Corro Beseler, Juan
Tipo de recurso: artículo
Fecha de publicación:2022
País:España
Institución:Universidad de Alcalá (UAH)
Repositorio:e_Buah Biblioteca Digital Universidad de Alcalá
Idioma:inglés
OAI Identifier:oai:dnet:ebuahbibliot::b4c1559e6c45b885e1dd34fae3a93e23
Acceso en línea:http://hdl.handle.net/10017/68903
https://dx.doi.org/10.1108/ARLA-07-2021-0137
Access Level:acceso abierto
Palabra clave:Industry 4.0
Industry 4.0 barriers
SMEs
LATAM
Spain
Digital enablers
Digitization and digitalization
Industria 4.0 Barreras
España
Habilitadores Digitales
Digitalización y Transformación digital
PYMEs
Empresa
Management science
Descripción
Sumario:Purpose &- Existing studies are scarce, especially on the Industry 4.0 application to firms' innovation andcompetitiveness, and even more on the application to LATAM and Spanish SMEs. This paper tries to fill thisgap by explaining the results of applying a systematic model, to understand which are the SMEs' strengths andweaknesses in relation to the Industry 4.0 transformation.Design/methodology/approach &- A systematic methodology involving documentation analysis, visits tothe companies, interviews with employees and managers, making a preliminary diagnosis, crossing their needswith the enablers that can apply. The fieldwork was carried out during a two month period (2019), on a targetsample of 22 SMEs operating under industrial productive activity already exporting or planning theirinternationalization toward LATAM regions.Findings &- There are relevant barriers that need to be overcome in order to enter Industry 4.0 and, in thisspecific analysis, the following major classification was obtained: (1) Technological barrier, (2) Training barrier,(3) Economic barrier and (4) Contextual barrier.Originality/value &- This paper provides new insights and sets a starting point regarding LATAM andSpanish' Industry 4.0 situation, while contributing to the SMEs competitiveness by providing deeperunderstanding of the barriers and limitations