dev Comments (0) June 20, 2025 PART A - Questionnaire To Understand Position On Technology Adaptation Section 1: Entity Information Nature of business Country City (Operations) Turnover Number of employees Number of years in operation What are the main challenges you face in production and operations? (Check all that apply) Quality control issues Equipment maintenance and downtime Inventory management Production bottlenecks Supply chain disruptions Skilled labour shortage Other (please specify) Is your company actively investing in automation/Technologies? Yes No Planning to None What are the challenges you encounter in adopting or implementing new technologies? (Check all that apply) High initial costs Lack of expertise in technology integration Resistance to change from employees Integration with legacy systems Data security concerns Other (please specify) What initiatives or changes do you believe would help alleviate the pain points in your operations? (Select the most relevant option) Digital Transformation Initiatives (e.g., automation, AI, ERP upgrades) Process Re-engineering (e.g., lean manufacturing, Six Sigma, workflow redesign) Workforce Upskilling and Training (e.g., technical certifications, ESG awareness) Improved Supplier/Partner Collaboration (e.g., shared data, integrated planning) Regulatory and Compliance Simplification None What is the primary challenge in ensuring efficient maintenance of machinery and minimizing downtime? Reactive maintenance strategies Lack of qualified maintenance personnel Inadequate spare parts inventory Limited access to equipment performance data None Are there any difficulties in obtaining real-time data from automated systems for monitoring and decision-making? (Select the most accurate response) Yes, due to lack of system integration and data silos Yes, data is available but not in a usable or visual format Partially – some systems provide real-time data, others do not No – real-time data is readily available and effectively used Not sure / Not applicable None In terms of real-time data accessibility, are there specific metrics or information that you believe could be more effectively communicated or analyzed through automation? (Select all that apply) Production Efficiency Metrics (e.g., cycle time, machine utilization, downtime) Energy Consumption and Environmental Impact Data Inventory and Supply Chain Status Quality Control and Defect Rates Employee Safety and Incident Reporting Customer Order Status and Delivery Tracking Financial KPIs (e.g., cost per unit, profit margins) Are there concerns or considerations related to the energy efficiency and sustainability of the current automation systems? (Select the most relevant option) Yes – current systems are energy-intensive and lack sustainability features Yes – there is awareness, but no concrete steps have been taken yet Partially – some systems are optimized, others still need improvement No – our automation systems are energy-efficient and support sustainability goals Not sure / Not assessed yet None Regarding Data Security: How is sensitive manufacturing data currently safeguarded, and are there areas where you feel additional measures are necessary? (Select the most accurate response) We have strong cybersecurity protocols in place and feel adequately protected Basic security measures exist, but advanced protection (e.g., encryption, access controls) is limited Data security is handled by IT, but there is limited visibility or confidence from operations Some gaps exist—especially in machine-level or edge-device data protection We are currently reviewing or upgrading our data security strategy Not sure / No formal measures in place None Have you encountered any challenges in terms of maintenance, updates, or communication with your automation system providers? (Select the most appropriate response) Yes – frequent delays and poor communication affect system reliability Yes – updates and maintenance are inconsistent or lack local support Partially – minor issues exist, but overall support is satisfactory No – we receive timely support, regular updates, and effective communication Not applicable – we manage automation systems entirely in-house None How do you currently measure the return on investment (ROI) of your automation systems, and are there areas where you see potential for increased efficiency or cost savings? We use a formal ROI framework with clearly defined KPIs and regular evaluations ROI is measured informally through operational metrics (e.g., output, downtime reduction) We focus more on qualitative benefits than quantitative ROI at this stage We have not yet defined a method to measure ROI from automation systems We see clear potential for cost savings, but haven’t explored it fully Not applicable / unsure Looking ahead, what strategic considerations or goals do you have for the future development and enhancement of shop floor automation in your organization? Integrating AI and advanced analytics for predictive maintenance and decision-making Achieving end-to-end connectivity between machines, systems, and enterprise platforms Enhancing energy efficiency and aligning with sustainability goals Improving workforce adaptability through training and human-machine collaboration Upgrading legacy systems to improve scalability and interoperability Strengthening cybersecurity and data protection on the shop floor No major changes planned at this time None PART B - Digital Transformation (Industry 4.0) Assessments Instrument Scale: 1 – Strongly disagreeScale: 2 – disagreeScale: 3 - Neither agree nor disagreeScale: 4 – AgreeScale: 5 – Strongly Agree Digital Leadership Does your leadership team believe that the industry 4.0 paradigm will make a profound impact on the traditional way of doing business? Strongly disagree Disagree Neither agree nor disagree Agree Strongly Agree None Are you ready to implement all Industry 4.0 digital components to become a leader in your industry? Strongly disagree Disagree Neither agree nor disagree Agree Strongly Agree None The leadership team has already taken some attempts to implement Industry 4.0 digital solutions across the organization? Strongly disagree Disagree Neither agree nor disagree Agree Strongly Agree None Does your organization prioritize immediate expectations from Industry 4.0? (Like Increase revenue, reduce cost, increase quality, increase customer connect, create transparent in business operation) Strongly disagree Disagree Neither agree nor disagree Agree Strongly Agree None Strategy and Business Model Do you want to formulate various management strategies based on real-time data and intelligence from the Cyber-Physical System environment, to take your organization to next level? Strongly disagree Disagree Neither agree nor disagree Agree Strongly Agree None Are you clear on how to kick start the Industry 4.0 journey from your organization? Strongly disagree Disagree Neither agree nor disagree Agree Strongly Agree None Do you want to go for a pilot study to understand the potential benefits of Industry 4.0 before adopting companywide implementation? Strongly disagree Disagree Neither agree nor disagree Agree Strongly Agree None Is your entire product life cycle embracing digital solutions as of now (Starting from design to warranty?) Strongly disagree Disagree Neither agree nor disagree Agree Strongly Agree None Do you foresee higher demands from your customers for digital features from your products and services? Strongly disagree Disagree Neither agree nor disagree Agree Strongly Agree None Product portfolio We have the agility and flexibility in place to fulfill customer expectations by introducing innovative digital features in the product portfolio Strongly disagree Disagree Neither agree nor disagree Agree Strongly Agree None We are ready to explore new business models that run purely on digital solutions Strongly disagree Disagree Neither agree nor disagree Agree Strongly Agree None Digital operations/IT landscape Our organization is a matured in terms of a digital-driven and intelligent automation system Strongly disagree Disagree Neither agree nor disagree Agree Strongly Agree None There is a mechanism available to generate the necessary data from all machines Strongly disagree Disagree Neither agree nor disagree Agree Strongly Agree None All critical operational parameters like KPI’s are automatically updated through digital channels Strongly disagree Disagree Neither agree nor disagree Agree Strongly Agree None Our internal functions are relying upon digital channels for coordination and collaboration Strongly disagree Disagree Neither agree nor disagree Agree Strongly Agree None Is your existing IT landscape capable enough to integrate the technical requirements Industry 4.0 ecosystem, for example, the Internet of Things (IoT) or Virtual reality integration? Strongly disagree Disagree Neither agree nor disagree Agree Strongly Agree None Your IT landscape is digitally connected with your partners like suppliers and customers? Strongly disagree Disagree Neither agree nor disagree Agree Strongly Agree None Company culture and Employee Skills As a company, do you respect the hidden value of the raw data? Strongly disagree Disagree Neither agree nor disagree Agree Strongly Agree None Do you agree that Industry 4.0 journey is a significant change management program for your organization? Strongly disagree Disagree Neither agree nor disagree Agree Strongly Agree None Do you have any mechanism to encourage Industry 4.0 suggestions from your employees? Strongly disagree Disagree Neither agree nor disagree Agree Strongly Agree None Are you confident that your internal team can execute Industry 4.0 projects? Strongly disagree Disagree Neither agree nor disagree Agree Strongly Agree None We already using digital solutions for employee competency building activities like e-learning and online training classes Strongly disagree Disagree Neither agree nor disagree Agree Strongly Agree None We already using the digital repository for knowledge management Strongly disagree Disagree Neither agree nor disagree Agree Strongly Agree None Customer Experience Our organization adopted Omnichannel digital strategy to reach out to the customer (Example: Provide seamless customer experience across online channels like social media, mobile advertising, and e-commerce websites) Strongly disagree Disagree Neither agree nor disagree Agree Strongly Agree None We are determined to leverage emerging technology to engage with the customer Strongly disagree Disagree Neither agree nor disagree Agree Strongly Agree None Others Tell us your challenges to embrace Industry 4.0 in your organization Time's up
