This study used a bibliometric approach and thematic analysis to explore the evolution of research in Industry 4.0, analysing 421 articles published between 2010 and 2022. This study aimed to investigate the annual scientific production, most-cited articles, keyword and keyword co-occurrence analysis, theme breakthroughs and future thematic directions. The authors identified four potential themes for future research: artificial intelligence (AI)-powered sustainable smart manufacturing ecosystem, small- and medium-sized enterprises and Industry 4.0: Digital innovation impact, internet of things (IoT)-enabled digital servitization for smart factories and ecosystems and dynamic capabilities in digital transformation. This study provides practical and theoretical guidance for I4.0 implementation, identifying potential themes for future work that offer practical implications for policymakers and industry practitioners, while also offering theoretical implications for developing new theories and frameworks.
AgostiniL., & NosellaA. (2019). The adoption of Industry 4.0 technologies in SMEs: results of an international study. Management Decision, 58(4), 625–643.
2.
AriaM., & CuccurulloC. (2017). bibliometrix: An R-tool for comprehensive science mapping analysis. Journal of Informetrics, 11(4), 959–975.
3.
BelhadiA., KambleS. S., JabbourC. J. C., ManiV., KhanS. A. R., & TourikiF. E. (2022). A self-assessment tool for evaluating the integration of circular economy and Industry 4.0 principles in closed-loop supply chains. International Journal of Production Economics, 245, 108372.
4.
BhatiaM. S., & KumarS. (2022). Critical success factors of Industry 4.0 in automotive manufacturing industry. IEEE Transactions on Engineering Management, 69(5), 2439–2453.
5.
BradS., MurarM., & BradE. (2018). Design of smart connected manufacturing resources to enable changeability, reconfigurability and total-cost-of-ownership models in the factory-of-the-future. International Journal of Production Research, 56(6), 2269–2291.
6.
CannasR. (2023). Exploring digital transformation and dynamic capabilities in agrifood SMEs. Journal of Small Business Management, 61(4), 1611–1637.
7.
CenamorJ., SjödinD. R., & ParidaV. (2017). Adopting a platform approach in servitization: Leveraging the value of digitalization. International Journal of Production Economics, 192, 54–65.
8.
ChenC. L. (2020). ‘Cross-disciplinary innovations by Taiwanese manufacturing SMEs in the context of Industry 4.0. Journal of Manufacturing Technology Management, 31(6), 1145–1168.
9.
Del GiudiceM., ScuottoV., PapaA., TarbaS. Y., BrescianiS., & WarkentinM. (2021). A self‐tuning model for smart manufacturing SMEs: Effects on digital innovation. Journal of Product Innovation Management, 38(1), 68–89.
10.
DenicolaiS., ZucchellaA., & MagnaniG. (2021). Internationalization, digitalization, and sustainability: Are SMEs ready? A survey on synergies and substituting effects among growth paths. Technological Forecasting and Social Change, 166, 120650.
11.
DonthuN., KumarS., MukherjeeD., PandeyN., & LimW. M. (2021). How to conduct a bibliometric analysis: An overview and guidelines. Journal of Business Research, 133, 285–296.
12.
DuttaG., KumarR., SindhwaniR., & SinghR. K. (2020). Digital transformation priorities of India’s discrete manufacturing SMEs: A conceptual study in perspective of Industry 4.0. Competitiveness Review: An International Business Journal, 30(3), 289–314.
13.
FranceschetM. (2009). A cluster analysis of scholar and journal bibliometric indicators. Journal of the American Society for Information Science and Technology, 60(10), 1950–1964.
14.
FrankA. G., DalenogareL. S., & AyalaN. F. (2019a). Industry 4.0 technologies: Implementation patterns in manufacturing companies. International Journal of Production Economics, 210, 15–26.
15.
FrankA. G., MendesG. H., AyalaN. F., & GhezziA. (2019b). Servitization and Industry 4.0 convergence in the digital transformation of product firms: A business model innovation perspective. Technological Forecasting and Social Change, 141, 341–351.
16.
GalatiF., & BigliardiB. (2019). Industry 4.0: Emerging themes and future research avenues using a text mining approach. Computers in Industry, 109, 100–113.
17.
GershwinS. B. (2018). The future of manufacturing systems engineering. International Journal of Production Research, 56(1–2), 224–237.
18.
GhobakhlooM., & ChingN. T. (2019). Adoption of digital technologies of smart manufacturing in SMEs. Journal of Industrial Information Integration, 16, 100107.
19.
GuptaR., RathoreB., & BiswasB. (2022a). Impact of COVID-19 on supply chains: Lessons learned and future research directions. International Journal of Quality & Reliability Management, 39(10), 2400–2423.
20.
GuptaS., PrathipatiB., DangayachG. S., RaoP. N., & JagtapS. (2022b). Development of a structural model for the adoption of Industry 4.0 enabled sustainable operations for operational excellence. Sustainability, 14(17), 11103.
21.
HarrmannL. K., EggertA., & BöhmE. (2023). Digital technology usage as a driver of servitization paths in manufacturing industries. European Journal of Marketing, 57(3), 834–857.
22.
HassounA., Aït-KaddourA., Abu-MahfouzA. M., RathodN. B., BaderF., BarbaF. J., BiancolilloA., CropotovaJ., GalanakisC. M., JambrakA. R., LorenzoJ. M., MågeI., OzogulF., & RegensteinJ. (2022). The fourth industrial revolution in the food industry—Part I: Industry 4.0 technologies. Critical Reviews in Food Science and Nutrition, 63(23), 6547–6563. 10.1080/10408398.2022.2034735.
23.
HiningsB., GegenhuberT., & GreenwoodR. (2018). Digital innovation and transformation: An institutional perspective. Information and Organization, 28(1), 52–61.
24.
HofmannE., & RüschM. (2017). Industry 4.0 and the current status as well as future prospects on logistics. Computers in Industry, 89, 23–34.
25.
HorváthD., & SzabóR. Z. (2019). Driving forces and barriers of Industry 4.0: Do multinational and small and medium-sized companies have equal opportunities?Technological Forecasting and Social Change, 146, 119–132.
26.
HuangZ., KimJ., SadriA., DoweyS., & DarguschM. S. (2019). Industry 4.0: Development of a multi-agent system for dynamic value stream mapping in SMEs. Journal of Manufacturing Systems, 52, 1–12.
27.
HughesL., DwivediY. K., RanaN. P., WilliamsM. D., & RaghavanV. (2022). Perspectives on the future of manufacturing within the Industry 4.0 era. Production Planning & Control, 33(2–3), 138–158.
28.
JamwalA., AgrawalR., SharmaM., & GiallanzaA. (2021). Industry 4.0 technologies for manufacturing sustainability: A systematic review and future research directions. Applied Sciences, 11(12), 5725.
29.
KaruppiahK., SankaranarayananB., D’AdamoI., & AliS. M. (2023). Evaluation of key factors for Industry 4.0 technologies adoption in small and medium, enterprises (SMEs): An emerging economy context. Journal of Asia Business Studies, 17(2), 347–370.
30.
KhanzodeA. G., SarmaP. R. S., & GoswamiM. (2021). Modelling interactions of select enablers of lean Six-Sigma considering sustainability implications: An integrated circular economy and Industry 4.0 perspective. Production Planning & Control, 1–17.
31.
KumarA., ManglaS. K., & KumarP. (2022a). An integrated literature review on sustainable food supply chains: Exploring research themes and future directions. Science of the Total Environment, 821, 153411.
32.
KumarG., BakshiA., KhandelwalA., PanchalA., & SoniU. (2022b). Analyzing Industry 4.0 implementation barriers in Indian SMEs. Journal of Industrial Integration and Management, 7(01), 153–169.
33.
KumarR., SinghR. K., & DwivediY. K. (2020). Application of Industry 4.0 technologies in SMEs for ethical and sustainable operations: Analysis of challenges. Journal of Cleaner Production, 275, 124063.
34.
LerchC., & GotschM. (2015). Digitalized product-service systems in manufacturing firms: A case study analysis. Research-technology Management, 58(5), 45–52.
35.
LiL. (2018). China’s manufacturing locus in 2025: With a comparison of “Made-in-China 2025” and “Industry 4.0.”Technological Forecasting and Social Change, 135, 66–74.
36.
LiL., SuF., ZhangW., & MaoJ. Y. (2018). Digital transformation by SME entrepreneurs: A capability perspective. Information Systems Journal, 28(6), 1129–1157.
37.
LiaoY., DeschampsF., LouresE. D. F. R., & RamosL. F. P. (2017). Past, present and future of Industry 4.0-a systematic literature review and research agenda proposal. International journal of production research, 55(12), 3609–3629.
38.
LyytinenK., YooY., & Boland JrR. J. (2016). Digital product innovation within four classes of innovation networks. Information Systems Journal, 26(1), 47–75.
MittalS., KhanM. A., RomeroD., & WuestT. (2018). A critical review of smart manufacturing & Industry 4.0 maturity models: Implications for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). Journal of Manufacturing Systems, 49, 194–214.
41.
MoeufA., LamouriS., PellerinR., Tamayo-GiraldoS., Tobon-ValenciaE., & EburdyR. (2020). Identification of critical success factors, risks and opportunities of Industry 4.0 in SMEs. International Journal of Production Research, 58(5), 1384–1400.
42.
MukherjeeD., LimW. M., KumarS., & DonthuN. (2022). Guidelines for advancing theory and practice through bibliometric research. Journal of Business Research, 148, 101–115.
43.
MüllerJ. M. (2019). Business model innovation in small- and medium-sized enterprises: Strategies for Industry 4.0 providers and users. Journal of Manufacturing Technology Management, 30(8), 1127–1142.
44.
MüllerJ. M., BuligaO., & VoigtK. I. (2018). Fortune favors the prepared: How SMEs approach business model innovations in Industry 4.0. Technological Forecasting and Social Change, 132, 2–17.
45.
Opazo-BasáezM., Vendrell-HerreroF., & BustinzaO. F. (2022). Digital service innovation: A paradigm shift in technological innovation. Journal of Service Management, 33(1), 97–120.
46.
ParkH. S., & TranN. H. (2015). Development of a cloud-based smart manufacturing system. Journal of Advanced Mechanical Design, Systems, and Manufacturing, 9(3). 10.1299/jamdsm.2015jamdsm0030
47.
ParkY., WooJ., & ChoiS. (2020). A cloud-based digital twin manufacturing system based on an interoperable data schema for smart manufacturing. International Journal of Computer Integrated Manufacturing, 33(12), 1259–1276.
48.
PiccarozziM., AquilaniB., & GattiC. (2018). Industry 4.0 in management studies: A systematic literature review. Sustainability, 10(10), 3821.
49.
RanaS. Sakshi, & SinghJ.2022, Presenting the POWER framework of conducting literature review. SakshiS. Rana,, & SinghJ. (Eds.), Exploring the latest trends in management literature (Review of Management Literature, Vol. 1) (pp. 1–13). Emerald Publishing Limited. 10.1108/S2754-586520220000001001
50.
RanaS., SinghJ., & KathuriaS. (2023). Parameters and decision elements on writing effective literature review papers: Empirical evidence from multiple stakeholders of POWER framework. Advancing methodologies of conducting literature review in management domain (Review of Management Literature, Vol. 2) (pp. 1–25). Emerald Publishing Limited.
51.
RandhawaK., WildenR., & HohbergerJ. (2016). A bibliometric review of open innovation: Setting a research agenda. Journal of Product Innovation Management, 33(6), 750–772.
52.
RathoreB., BiswasB., GuptaR., & BiswasI. (2023). A retrospective analysis of the evolution of ergonomics for environmental sustainability (2011–2021). Ergonomics, 66(6), 730–748.
53.
RauchE., DallasegaP., & UnterhoferM. (2019). Requirements and barriers for introducing smart manufacturing in small and medium-sized enterprises. IEEE Engineering Management Review, 47(3), 87–94.
54.
RialtiR., MarziG., CiappeiC., & BussoD. (2019). Big data and dynamic capabilities: A bibliometric analysis and systematic literature review. Management Decision, 57(8), 2052–2068. 10.1108/MD-07-2018-0821
55.
RicciR., BattagliaD., & NeirottiP. (2021). External knowledge search, opportunity recognition and Industry 4.0 adoption in SMEs. International Journal of Production Economics, 240, 108234.
56.
SafarL., SopkoJ., DancakovaD., & WoschankM. (2020). Industry 4.0—Awareness in South India. Sustainability, 12(8), 3207.
57.
SahiG. K., GuptaM. C., & ChengT. C. E. (2020). The effects of strategic orientation on operational ambidexterity: A study of Indian SMEs in the Industry 4.0 era. International Journal of Production Economics, 220, 107395.
58.
SamadhiyaA., AgrawalR., LuthraS., KumarA., Garza-ReyesJ. A., & SrivastavaD. K. (2022). Total productive maintenance and Industry 4.0 in a sustainability context: Exploring the mediating effect of circular economy. The International Journal of Logistics Management, 34(3), 818–846.
59.
SchröderC. (2016). The challenges of Industry 4.0 for small and medium-sized enterprises. Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung: Bonn, Germany, 7, 1–28. https://library.fes.de/pdf-files/wiso/12683.pdf
60.
SeuringS., & MüllerM. (2008). From a literature review to a conceptual framework for sustainable supply chain management. Journal of Cleaner Production, 16(15), 1699–1710.
61.
SiauK., XiY., & ZouC. (2019). Industry 4.0: Challenges and opportunities in different countries. Cutter Business Technology Journal, 32(6), 6–14.
62.
SjödinD. R., ParidaV., LeksellM., & PetrovicA. (2018). Smart factory implementation and process innovation: A preliminary maturity model for leveraging digitalization in manufacturing moving to smart factories presents specific challenges that can be addressed through a structured approach focused on people, processes, and technologies. Research-Technology Management, 61(5), 22–31.
63.
SoniG., KumarS., MahtoR. V., ManglaS. K., MittalM. L., & LimW. M. (2022). A decision-making framework for Industry 4.0 technology implementation: The case of FinTech and sustainable supply chain finance for SMEs. Technological Forecasting and Social Change, 180, 121686.
64.
ValentinovV., Van AsscheK., & HermansF. (2022). Toward a digital transformation of the theory of the firm: Emergence as framework for organizational sustainability. Canadian Journal of Administrative Sciences, 40(3), 270–282. 10.1002/cjas.1668
65.
Van OorschotJ. A., HofmanE., & HalmanJ. I. (2018). A bibliometric review of the innovation adoption literature. Technological Forecasting and Social Change, 134, 1–21.
66.
VilkasM., BikfalviA., RauleckasR., & MarcinkeviciusG. (2022). The interplay between product innovation and servitization: The mediating role of digitalization. Journal of Business & Industrial Marketing, 37(11), 2169–2184.
67.
WangS., ZhangY., QianC., & ZhangD. (2022). A framework for credit-driven smart manufacturing service configuration based on complex networks. International Journal of Computer Integrated Manufacturing, 35(10–11), 1107–1132.
68.
WohlleberA. J., BockM., BirkelH., & HartmannE. (2022). Implementing vital dynamic capabilities to succeed in digital transformation: A multiple-case study in maritime container shipping. IEEE Transactions on Engineering Management. 10.1109/TEM.2022.3201770
69.
YuK., QianC., & ChenJ. (2022). How does intelligent manufacturing reconcile the conflict between process standards and technological innovation?Journal of Engineering and Technology Management, 65, 101698.
70.
ZhuangC., LiuJ., & XiongH. (2018). Digital twin-based smart production management and control framework for the complex product assembly shop-floor. The International Journal of Advanced Manufacturing Technology, 96(1), 1149–1163.
