Assessment of the Degree of Implementation of Industry 4.0 Technologies: Case Study of Murcia Region in Southeast Spain

Antonio Guerrero González; Daniel  Robles Quiñonero; Samuel Fraile Vega

doi:10.5755/j01.ee.32.5.27943

Authors

Antonio Guerrero González Universidad Politécnica de Cartagena, Spain
Daniel Robles Quiñonero Universidad Politécnica de Cartagena, Spain
Samuel Fraile Vega Universidad Politécnica de Cartagena, Spain

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.5755/j01.ee.32.5.27943

Keywords:

Industry 4.0, Implementation of Industry 4.0, Digital Transformation, Maturity Mode, Business Competitiveness

Abstract

This work analyzes how the so-called Industry 4.0 technologies are being implemented in companies in the Region of Murcia, in Southeastern Spain. The objective was to determine through questionnaires and face-to-face interviews the current state of 4.0 technologies in Murcia, including additional data of the companies, such as age, number of employees and turnover. Most types of companies in the Region were represented in terms of size, age, turnover, profits and profitability. This study analyzes the relationship between the degree of implementation of 4.0 technologies, investment and training of workers, with companies’ seniority, number of employees, turnover, profits and profitability. The results obtained are significantly higher in companies with higher turnover, profits and profitability, which in turn, have the best levels of investment and training of their workers in 4.0 technologies. The opinions of the companies determined the factors that drove the companies to implement these technologies, the factors perceived as barriers, the opportunities in the current context that encourage the adoption of technologies, as well as the threats that may jeopardize their progress in digital transformation. The conclusions obtained can be taken into account in regional policies that implement appropriate actions to help drive the fourth industrial revolution in the region.

Author Biographies

Antonio Guerrero González, Universidad Politécnica de Cartagena, Spain

Antonio Guerrero González, PhD in Industrial Technologies with mention of European doctor by the Polytechnic University of Cartagena (2001), associate professor in the department of Systems Engineering and Automation. Coordinator of the Master of Industry 4.0 of the Polytechnic University of Cartagena. Director of the 4.0 Observatory of the Murcia Region. Specialist in Advanced Automation, Industrial Systems Engineering and Industry 4.0 Technologies, Autonomous Marine Robotics, lines of research and development on which he has directed multiple research projects.

Daniel Robles Quiñonero, Universidad Politécnica de Cartagena, Spain

Daniel Robles Quiñonero holds a Bachelor of Architectural Technology and Construction Management by the Technical University of Madrid (UPM) and a Master of Business Administration by the Technical University of Cartagena (UPCT). Daniel works as a Research Management Technician at the Research & Tech Transfer Unit of the Technical University of Cartagena (UPCT). He is also involved in the European University of Technology (EuT+) project, one of the selected transnational alliances of the European Universities initiative to improve European higher education and research.

Samuel Fraile Vega, Universidad Politécnica de Cartagena, Spain

Samuel Fraile Vega holds a degree in Administration and Business Management by UCAM (Universidad Católica San Antonio de Murcia) and a Master of Business Administration by INESEM. Samuel has been working more than five years as a Research Management Technician at the Research & Tech Transfer Unit of the Technical University of Cartagena (UPCT).