Research focus :
The research aims to explore the correlations between perceptions of Industry 4.0 among managers of Walloon industrial SMEs and their maturity in using Industry 4.0 technologies, with a view to understanding how these factors influence their strategic approaches to implementing Industry 4.0.
Project leaders : Anastassiya Zabudkina, François Pichault & Olivier Lisein
Organisations associated with the project : LENTIC, Digital Lab, Wallonie Entreprendre, EQUANS, John Cockerill, AGC
The project:
This study represents the second phase of an ongoing doctoral research initiative, also linked to the Industrie 4.h Chair, which is investigating the human and organisational challenges facing industrial SMEs in Wallonia, the French-speaking region of Belgium. As part of this research, managers and CEOs of Walloon industrial SMEs were invited to take part in an online survey, giving them the opportunity to express their understanding of the Industrie 4.0 concept. In addition, the survey explored their perceptions of the current use of Industry 4.0 technologies and the strategic rationale guiding their implementation of Industry 4.0.
Project objective :
Using the data collected, the aim is to analyse the impact of perceptions of Industry 4.0 on the strategic decisions taken by SMEs.
Expected results :
The identification of various correlations between perceptions of the Industrie 4.0 concept among SME managers and their level of competence in using Industrie 4.0 technologies. These models will shed light on the strategic approaches adopted by SMEs in implementing Industrie 4.0.
Planification : January 2023 - February 2024
