Industry 4.0 implementation sequence for manufacturing companies

As a result of increasing globalization, manufacturing companies are confronted with rising costs and time pressure. A possibility to counter these challenges is Industry 4.0, which focuses on optimizing industrial processes and is characterized by the digitalization and networking of all value chain participants. This paper elaborates the one-to-one interrelation between relevant Industry 4.0 technologies using the Delphi study method and interdependency matrices. Based on this, an Industry 4.0 implementation sequence for manufacturing companies is derived and validated by experts. The contribution shall serve as an essential basis for companies to implement Industry 4.0 in their production.