Industry 4.0 for SMEs: Challenges, Opportunities and Requirements [Paperback]

This open access book explores the concept of Industry 4.0, which presents a considerable challenge for the production and service sectors. While digitization initiatives are usually integrated into the central corporate strategy of larger companies, smaller firms often have problems putting Industry 4.0 paradigms into practice. Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) possess neither the human nor financial resources to systematically investigate the potential and risks of introducing Industry 4.0. Addressing this obstacle, the international team of authors focuses on the development of smart manufacturing concepts, logistics solutions and managerial models specifically for SMEs. Aiming to provide methodological frameworks and pilot solutions for SMEs during their digital transformation, this innovative and timely book will be of great use to scholars researching technology management, digitization and small business, as well as practitioners within manufacturing companies.

Part I. Introduction to Industry 4.0 for SMEs.- 1. SME 4.0: The Role of Small- and Medium-Sized Enterprises in the Digital Transformation; Dominik T. Matt and Erwin Rauch.- Part II. Industry 4.0 Concepts for Smart Manufacturing in SMEs.- 2. SME Requirements and Guidelines for the Design of Smart and Highly Adaptable Manufacturing Systems; Erwin Rauch, Andrew R. Vickery, Christopher A. Brown and Dominik T. Matt.-3. Implementation of Industrial Internet of Things and CPS in SMEs for Distributed and Service-oriented Control; Rafael A. Rojas and Manuel A. Ruiz Garcia.- 4. The Opportunities and Challenges of SME Manufacturing Automation: Safety and Ergonomics in Human-Robot Collaboration; Luca Gualtieri, Ilaria Palomba, Erich J. Wehrle and Renato Vidoni.- Part III. Industry 4.0 Concepts for Smart Logistics in SMEs.- 5. Requirement Analysis for the Design of Smart Logistics in SMEs; Patrick Dallasega, Manuel Woschank,ló1