Identification and evaluation of Industry 4.0 solutions in the automotive industry - a case study

Purpose: The aim of this paper is to identify and evaluate the benefits of existing solutions in the field of Industry 4.0 in automotive companies in the sector of small and medium enterprises. Design/methodology/approach: The author applied the literature review to extract the main elements of Industry 4.0, which are adopted in the automotive industry. The next part was an interview with managers of a selected automotive company. The interview was analyzed using qualitative content analysis. Findings: Based on the assessment of implementing Industry 4.0 solutions in an enterprise from the SME sector, it can be concluded that a company may achieve many benefits thanks to such elements as automated machines, cyber-physical systems, big data and cloud-based tools. The results of these studies have shown that the efficient use of technology can significantly increase the productivity of a production company. Research limitations/implications: Industry 4.0 is developed intensively, but is still at an early stage of implementation. The research was based on a case study, which limits the generalization of results. In the future, the scope of research should be extended to the entire industry. Practical implications: Managers should analyze and use the innovative solutions that Industry 4.0 gives to achieve benefits in various areas of the company’s operations. Despite this, some activities in the production process are performed better by a human than a machine or an IT system. Originality/value: The article is one of a few that examine the implementation of Industry 4.0 solutions in the context of SMEs in Poland