Information and communication integration in smart factory design

Area of Science:

• Operations Research
• Industrial Engineering
• Manufacturing Systems

Background:

• Smart factory design is critical for effective Industry 4.0 technology integration in production.
• Existing reviews focus on smart manufacturing but lack specific guidance on smart factory design (planning and operation).

Purpose of the Study:

• To provide an overview of recent research (2018-2022) on smart factory design.
• To systematize opportunities, risks, and success factors based on empirical studies.
• To inform businesses on effective smart factory design implementation for competitive advantage and to outline research gaps for academia.

Main Methods:

• Systematic review of empirical studies published between 2018 and 2022.
• Analysis and synthesis of research findings on smart factory design, opportunities, risks, and success factors.

Main Results:

• Identified key opportunities, risks, and success factors in smart factory design from recent literature.
• Provided insights into practical approaches for businesses to achieve cost advantages and enhance competitiveness through strategic smart factory design.
• Classified relevant issues and highlighted open research fields for academic investigation.

Conclusions:

• Strategic smart factory design is imperative for leveraging Industry 4.0 technologies and achieving business objectives.
• The review offers a structured understanding of smart factory design, bridging practical business needs with academic research directions.
• Further research is needed to address identified open fields, enhancing the theoretical and practical foundations of smart factory design.