An integrated Fuzzy DEMATEL and Fuzzy Cognitive Maps approach for the assessing of the Industry 4.0 Model

Abstract

Today, organizations are experiencing problems due to advancements in the environment, community, economy, and technology. In the future, physical and virtual systems, including the whole chain from product design to the distribution to customers and feedback will be required to overcome problems for organizations. Thus, companies need to comprehend and apply Industry 4.0. The most frequently encountered situation in the literature is the absence of research based on the practical experience of Industry 4.0 processes. In this study, the analysis of 9 concepts (Strategy, Leadership, Customers, Products, Operations, Culture, People, Governance, and Technology) is performed by utilizing the fuzzy DEMATEL and fuzzy AHP methods. As a result of both methods, Technology, Operations and Strategy concepts are obtained as the three most important concepts in the same rank in both methods. There is no significant change in the rank of the other concepts. Although close rankings are obtained from both methods, considering the interaction between the concepts and avoid shortcomings of consensus in the method, the ranking obtained by the fuzzy DEMATEL method is preferred to use as input in Fuzzy Cognitive Maps (FCMs). Then a relation map is formed based on their interaction and three alternative scenarios are created for FCMs from defuzzified total relation matrix data. As a result of scenarios, it is more useful for organizations to apply the Industry 4.0 processes to transfer their resources to their activities concerning the Strategies, Technology, and Operations concepts. The aim is to predict the maturity levels of Industry 4.0 of organizations for the future by employing the FCMs methodology. Thanks to the introduced model based on the integration of fuzzy DEMATEL and FCMs, an insight is provided into which concepts should be prioritized about Industry 4.0.