Key Challenges and Opportunities of Industry 4.0 in Metallurgical Industry in Slovakia

Abstract

The main objective of the paper was to identify and explain the terms related to Industry 4.0 based on a review of foreign literature and then to interpret the results of the quantitative research. In the construction of the theoretical framework, the analysis, synthesis, comparison of scientific terminology from foreign scientific sources from recent years. Interpretation of the studied issues from the practical aspect was realised on the basis of the evaluation of the questionnaire survey. The object of the research were 29 enterprises participating in the metallurgical industry in Slovakia. The research results indicate that the respondents have partial information about Industry 4.0. Data evaluation also indicated that most of the respondents are applying Industry 4.0 in production. Industry 4.0 in metallurgical enterprises mainly optimise business processes. The use of smart sensors from Industry 4.0 technologies as well as advanced simulation is dominant in metallurgical enterprises in Slovakia.

Moderating Effect of Industry 4.0 on the Performance of Enterprises in the Constrains Related to COVID-19 in the Perception of Employees in Slovakia

“…The biggest part, 96 respondents (45.6%), considered the indicated job positions to be at risk due to robotization and automation. The findings from our questionnaire are supported by research (Richnák 2022), according to which up to 51.7% of companies will eliminate jobs and 44.8% will partially eliminate jobs. At the same time, the author came to the conclusion that companies will move employees to departments and positions that will not be fully digitized.…”