Assessment of the Level of Industry 4.0 Implementation in Organizations in Poland

Abstract

This empirical study delves into the implementation of Industry 4.0 within organizations in Poland, with a particular focus on the impact of advanced technologies. The research challenges the prevailing notion that larger organizations are more adept at adopting Industry 4.0, while also investigating the levels of agility and adaptation among smaller entities. The study evaluates four research hypotheses by analyzing data collected from 73 organizations in Poland. Special attention is given to a comprehensive assessment of Industry 4.0 implementation, emphasizing advanced technologies such as augmented reality, artificial intelligence, and robotics. Contrary to common belief, the findings indicate that smaller organizations often demonstrate higher levels of agility and adaptation in implementing certain aspects of Industry 4.0 compared to their larger counterparts. Despite widespread awareness of Industry 4.0 concepts, a notable gap exists between awareness and effective implementation. Notably, cybersecurity emerges as the most successfully implemented area, likely due to an increased awareness of digital threats. However, other technologies like augmented reality, AI, and robotics exhibit lower implementation levels, suggesting practical application barriers. The study further reveals varying levels of readiness among different sectors to embrace new technologies.