The long and winding road to Industry 4.0 in Argentine SMEs: An Analysis of Argentina's Implementation of Smart Industry
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.70453/2344.9195.v12.n1.45154Keywords:
Industry 4.0, SMEs, Technological Change, Barriers and Drivers, Public PoliciesAbstract
The Industry 4.0 has gained prominence in academic discourse and innovation policies due to its appeal stemming from cost reduction and global momentum. It is grounded in electronic and digital technologies that integrate machinery, software, and personnel for commercial objectives, offering benefits such as traceability and flexibility, alongside challenges like continuous training and technological dependency. Its implementation is paramount for competitiveness, particularly among small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), which encounter specific obstacles and require technological adaptation. Our aim is to describe and analyse levels of implementation maturity of Industry 4.0 in Argentine SMEs, pinpointing obstacles and impacts. Implementation was assessed in companies from Entre Ríos and Santa Fe, employing a comprehensive questionnaire covering aspects like cyber-physical systems, the Internet of Things, and robotics. Data from 15 interviewed companies between 2022 and 2023 were analysed, along with policies and incentives through bibliographic review and secondary data. Challenges encompass economic-financial difficulties and reliance on specialized providers. Recommendations include revising economic support instruments, establishing phased credit programs, and conducting crucial research to determine necessary skills for employees in Industry 4.0 processes and SME digitalization, facilitating workforce updating and retraining. The importance of updating technical education to incorporate relevant competencies for Industry 4.0, such as programming, automation, and data acquisition and analytics, is emphasized.
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