The link between Industry 4.0 and lean manufacturing: mapping current research and establishing a research agenda

TLDR

Industry 4.0, a widely discussed concept, and lean manufacturing both employ decentralized control to boost productivity and flexibility, yet few studies have examined their interrelationship. The article aims to explore this gap by mapping existing literature on the Industry 4.0–lean manufacturing link. The authors conduct a systematic literature review of works published up to August 2017. They identify four main research streams linking Industry 4.0 and lean manufacturing and propose a research agenda for future studies.

Abstract

In recent years, Industry 4.0 has emerged as one of the most discussed concepts and has gained significant popularity in both academia and the industrial sector. Both Industry 4.0 and lean manufacturing utilise decentralised control and aim to increase productivity and flexibility. However, there have been few studies investigating the link between these two domains. This article explores this novel area and maps the current literature. This is achieved through a systematic literature review methodology, investigating literature published up to and including August 2017. This article identifies four main research streams concerning the link between Industry 4.0 and lean manufacturing, and a research agenda for future studies is proposed.