Quality 4.0: results from a systematic literature review

Abstract

PurposeQuality 4.0 is being presented as the new stage of quality development. However, its overlying concept and rationale are still hard to define. To better understand what different authors and studies advocate being Quality 4.0, a systematic literature review was undertaken on the topic. This paper presents the results of such review, providing some avenues for further research on quality management.Design/methodology/approachThe documents for the systematic literature review have been searched on the Scopus database, using the search equation: [TITLE-ABS-KEY (“Quality 4.0”) OR TITLE-ABS-KEY (Quality Management” AND (“Industry 4.0” OR “Fourth Industr*” OR i4.0))]. Documents were filtered by language and by type. Of the 367 documents identified, 146 were submitted to exploratory content analysis.FindingsThe analyzed documents essentially provide theoretical discussions on what Quality 4.0 is or should be. Five categories have emerged from the content analysis undertaken: Industry 4.0 and the Rise of a New Approach to Quality; Motivations, Readiness Factors and Barriers to a Quality 4.0 Approach; Digital Quality Management Systems; Combination of Quality Tools and Lean Methodologies and Quality 4.0 Professionals.Research limitations/implicationsIt was hard to find studies reporting how quality is actually being managed in organizations that already operate in the Industry 4.0 paradigm. Answers could not be found to questions regarding actual practices, methodologies and tools being used in Quality 4.0 approaches. However, the research undertaken allowed to identify in the literature different ways of conceptualizing and analyzing Quality 4.0, opening up avenues for further research on quality management in the Industry 4.0 era.Originality/valueThis paper offers a broad look at how quality management is changing in response to the affirmation of the Industry 4.0 paradigm.

Exploring the Challenges of Industry 4.0 Adoption in the FMCG Sector: Implications for Resilient Supply Chain in Emerging Economy

“…Most research overlooks the unique challenges faced by developing economies when adopting I4.0, whereas this study specifically analyses the situation in an emerging economy by providing valuable insights for similar contexts. This research illustrates how applying I4.0 may boost logistics activities, increase productivity, cut economic risk, reduce defect rates and failure and reduce FMCG's negative environmental impacts [115,116]. By combining these elements, this study presents an original and relevant investigation that has not been carried out before, addressing a critical gap in knowledge related to the FMCG sector in emerging economies.…”