TY - JOUR
T1 - How does performance vary between early and late adopters of Industry 4.0? A qualitative viewpoint
AU - Antony, Jiju
AU - Sony, Michael
AU - McDermott, Olivia
AU - Furterer, Sandy
AU - Pepper, Matthew
PY - 2023/1/17
Y1 - 2023/1/17
N2 - Purpose: Industry 4.0 is a new trend among organizations. Some organizations have been early adopters or later adopters of Industry 4.0. The purpose of this paper is to investigate how performance effects vary between early and late adopters of Industry 4.0. Design/methodology/approach: This study applies a qualitative research methodology using grounded theory. 14 senior management professionals who have implemented Industry 4.0 participated in this study through a theoretical and snowball sampling approach. These professionals were from manufacturing and service sectors, from North America, Europe and Asia. The study used semi structured open-ended interviews to capture the organizational performance on operational, financial, environmental and social dimensions. Findings: The findings were analyzed in terms of four broad themes which emerged from the interviews. In operational performance the operational and implementation cost will be higher for early adopters. The late adopters may enjoy the advantage in terms of improved business models. In terms of financial performance, the early adopters may see a marginal increase in profit and increased stock price compared to late adopters. The performance on the environmental dimension will see early adopters enjoying material efficiency, energy savings and an improved image of the company compared to late adopters. In social performance, the early adopters will provide a better quality of work life, safer manufacturing environment. However, the resistance from labor unions will be higher for early adopters compared to late adopters. Practical implications: Organizations must decide the timing of implementation of Industry 4.0. This study will act as a guide wherein they can decide to be an early adopter or late adopter based on knowledge of the resulting performance consequences. Originality/value: This is the first paper that studies the performance effects of early versus late adopters of Industry 4.0.
AB - Purpose: Industry 4.0 is a new trend among organizations. Some organizations have been early adopters or later adopters of Industry 4.0. The purpose of this paper is to investigate how performance effects vary between early and late adopters of Industry 4.0. Design/methodology/approach: This study applies a qualitative research methodology using grounded theory. 14 senior management professionals who have implemented Industry 4.0 participated in this study through a theoretical and snowball sampling approach. These professionals were from manufacturing and service sectors, from North America, Europe and Asia. The study used semi structured open-ended interviews to capture the organizational performance on operational, financial, environmental and social dimensions. Findings: The findings were analyzed in terms of four broad themes which emerged from the interviews. In operational performance the operational and implementation cost will be higher for early adopters. The late adopters may enjoy the advantage in terms of improved business models. In terms of financial performance, the early adopters may see a marginal increase in profit and increased stock price compared to late adopters. The performance on the environmental dimension will see early adopters enjoying material efficiency, energy savings and an improved image of the company compared to late adopters. In social performance, the early adopters will provide a better quality of work life, safer manufacturing environment. However, the resistance from labor unions will be higher for early adopters compared to late adopters. Practical implications: Organizations must decide the timing of implementation of Industry 4.0. This study will act as a guide wherein they can decide to be an early adopter or late adopter based on knowledge of the resulting performance consequences. Originality/value: This is the first paper that studies the performance effects of early versus late adopters of Industry 4.0.
KW - Early adopters
KW - Environmental performance
KW - Financial performance
KW - Industry 4.0
KW - Late adopters
KW - Operational performance
KW - Social performance
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85116667674&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1108/IJQRM-05-2021-0134
DO - 10.1108/IJQRM-05-2021-0134
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:85116667674
VL - 40
SP - 1
EP - 24
JO - International Journal of Quality and Reliability Management
JF - International Journal of Quality and Reliability Management
SN - 0265-671X
IS - 1
ER -