Enhancing Sustainability through Fourth Industrial Revolution Technologies: A Quantitative Study Comparing Small- and Medium-Sized Enterprises with Large Enterprises

12 pages•Published: June 20, 2022

Simon Karl Hubert Backhaus and Devika Nadarajah

Abstract

The purpose of this paper is to compare small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) against large enterprises (LEs) in terms of their sustainability enhancements through Fourth Industrial Revolution (IR4) technologies, specifically in the context of developing countries. This study adopted a quantitative approach. Questionnaires were distributed to Malaysian manufacturers registered under Malaysia External Trade Development Corporation MATRADE via email and in-person at the Smart Manufacturing Uprising conference in Kuala Lumpur. A total of 76 valid responses were obtained and analyzed using multiple regression. Integrated engineering systems (IES), digital automation with process control sensors, and the simulation/analysis of virtual models showed significant positive effects on LEs’ sustainability. The small sample size of 76 raises generalizability issues. Thus, large-scale quantitative research is recommended to validate the relationships identified in this study. The study is among the first to identify and compare the significant relationships between IR4 technologies and sustainability enhancements among SMEs and LEs. The findings are of interest to academics as well as to public and private sector practitioners in directing resources to technologies that enhance sustainability.

Keyphrases: fourth industrial revolution, industry 4.0, quantitative study, simulation, sustainability

In: Knut Hinkelmann and Aurona Gerber (editors). Proceedings of the Society 5.0 Conference 2022 - Integrating Digital World and Real World to Resolve Challenges in Business and Society, vol 84, pages 1-12.

Links:	https://easychair.org/publications/paper/mHbt1
	https://doi.org/10.29007/h5fl

BibTeX entry

@inproceedings{Society5.0-2022:Enhancing_Sustainability_through_Fourth,
  author    = {Simon Karl Hubert Backhaus and Devika Nadarajah},
  title     = {Enhancing Sustainability through Fourth Industrial Revolution Technologies: A Quantitative Study Comparing Small- and Medium-Sized Enterprises with Large Enterprises},
  booktitle = {Proceedings of the Society 5.0 Conference 2022 - Integrating Digital World and Real World to Resolve Challenges in Business and Society},
  editor    = {Knut Hinkelmann and Aurona Gerber},
  series    = {EPiC Series in Computing},
  volume    = {84},
  publisher = {EasyChair},
  bibsource = {EasyChair, https://easychair.org},
  issn      = {2398-7340},
  url       = {/publications/paper/mHbt1},
  doi       = {10.29007/h5fl},
  pages     = {1-12},
  year      = {2022}}

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