Industry 4.0 Readiness for Manufacturing SMEs in Malaysia: A Case Study on the Industry4WRD Readiness Assessment (RA)
MN Azhar*, AIM Shaiful and MN Omar
Faculty of Mechanical Engineering and Technology, Universiti Malaysia Perlis, Kampus Pauh Putra, 02600 Arau, Perlis, Malaysia
*Corresponding Author: MN Azhar, Faculty of Mechanical Engineering and Technology, Universiti Malaysia Perlis, Kampus Pauh Putra, 02600 Arau, Perlis, Malaysia.
Published: August 30, 2023
Abstract
The Industry4WRD readiness assessment (RA) model is a valuable tool for manufacturing companies to identify gaps and develop improvement plans for implementing Industry 4.0 concepts. It aligns with global implementation initiatives and has the potential to become a practical guideline and standard for Industry 4.0 implementation worldwide. With the competitiveness of manufacturing SMEs playing a crucial role in Malaysia's economy, it is imperative for these SMEs to embrace Industry 4.0 and enhance their global competitiveness. The Industry4WRD RA program, organized by the Ministry of International Trade and Industry (MITI), offers SMEs the opportunity to participate and align with Industry 4.0 through a structured assessment process. This paper presents the methodology and processes of applying the Industry4WRD RA model, including the results from a case study conducted on two manufacturing SMEs. The quantitative and qualitative findings explore the relationship between various shift factors, thrusts, and dimensions, defining the SMEs' Industry 4.0 readiness profiles. These results help SMEs identify their current baseline, pinpoint gaps, and develop improvement plans for full-scale implementation of Industry 4.0. The research serves as a reference for future work and enhancements in this field.
Keywords: Industry 4.0; Industry4WRD; SMEs; SIRI; Readiness Assessment