Digitalisation framework for garment manufacturing SMEs to adopt industry 4.0 technologies

Purpose: The introduction of Industry 4.0 (I4.0) digital technologies remains challenging for garment manufacturing Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs), as this sector tends to maintain traditional operations. Key barriers for SMEs in adopting I4.0 include limited budgets, a lack of skills and insufficient awareness of I4.0 concepts. Digitalisation assessment models can assist SMEs by guiding them through the I4.0 adoption.

Aim: This research aims to develop a comprehensive self-assessment Digitalisation Roadmap for Garment Manufacturing (DFGM) SMEs to support them effectively in their I4.0 adoption.

Method: Starting with a critical review of existing digitalisation models and building on previously validated models, a new and improved self-assessment DFGM tool was proposed through the introduction of novel components, such as tasks, I4.0 capabilities, technologies and technological solutions. The DFGM dashboard was verified through two pilot studies and validated further with two case studies within real industrial settings.

Findings: The DFGM dashboard offers detailed guidance for SME practitioners, supporting informed decision-making, action planning, and visualisation of their digital transformation journey. The dashboard provides an industry-specific in-depth digitalisation maturity assessment,. The results gathered through a questionnaire confirmed the dashboard's effectiveness and practical applicability, with a mean score exceeding 3.5 which is positive and above a neutral indicator, highlighting its value in assisting digitalisation efforts.

Originality/value: The DFGM is specifically tailored for garment manufacturing SMEs, accounting for industry nuances and SME characteristics by introducing novel components related to I4.0 tasks, capabilities, technologies and its enabler solutions. It provides modular, step-by-step guidance that is both comprehensive and practical, raising awareness among practitioners about effectively implementing I4.0 technologies.