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Prototyping industry 4.0: enhancing efficiency and productivity in small enterprises through iteration and low-cost solutions

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  16 May 2024

Håkon Havsgård ,
Daniel Nygård Ege  and
Martin Steinert
Håkon Havsgård*
Affiliation:
Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Norway
Daniel Nygård Ege
Affiliation:
Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Norway
Martin Steinert
Affiliation:
Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Norway
*
haakonhav@gmail.com

Abstract

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This paper explores the implementation of Industry 4.0 technologies in Small Enterprises (SEs), focusing on the unique challenges they face. It presents four case studies demonstrating how low-cost, low-effort solutions can enhance efficiency and productivity in small companies. The solutions, developed in a local makerspace, address specific manufacturing challenges that lack affordable or existing off-the-shelf solutions. The paper highlights the value of iterative prototyping in implementing Industry 4.0 solutions and discusses how this approach can help SEs overcome adaptation challenges.

Keywords

prototypingindustry 4.0small and medium size enterprise (SME)case study
Type
Design Organisation, Collaboration and Management
Information
Proceedings of the Design Society , Volume 4: DESIGN 2024 , May 2024 , pp. 275 - 284
Creative Commons
Creative Common License - CCCreative Common License - BYCreative Common License - NCCreative Common License - ND
This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives licence (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/), which permits non-commercial re-use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is unaltered and is properly cited. The written permission of Cambridge University Press must be obtained for commercial re-use or in order to create a derivative work.
Copyright
The Author(s), 2024.

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