Does Industry 4.0 improve productivity? Evidence from the Italian automotive supply chain. (2nd November 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Calabrese, Giuseppe Giulio; Falavigna, Greta
• Is Part Of: International journal of automotive technology and management. Volume 22:Number 4(2022)
• Page Start: 506
• Page End: 526
• Publication Date: 2022-11-02
• Subjects: Industry 40 -- digital transition -- Italian automotive supply chain -- productivity; Automobile industry and trade -- Management -- Periodicals; 338.456292068
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1470-9511

Abstract

This paper aims at investigating the diffusion, application, constraints and performance of the implementation of Industry 4.0 technologies in the Italian automotive supply chain. The worldwide positioning of Stellantis is likely to move the Italian automotive industry from a core automotive country like the USA, Germany, or Japan to a semi-peripheral automotive country like the UK, Canada or Sweden focused mainly on the supply chain. The Italian automotive supply chain is one of the most relevant in Europe with more than 2, 000 firms and covers all product specialisation. In the digitalisation transition era, Industry 4.0 holds potential to reshape and reinforce existing regional supply chains. Literature suggests better performance for whom invested in Industry 4.0; however our findings did not match expectations although some interesting exceptions emerge.