Research Information System
IEEE Transactions on Engineering Management, vol.72, pp.4-17, 2025 (SCI-Expanded, SSCI, Scopus)
This paper investigates the pivotal role of Industry 4.0 process management in leveraging human resources and operational processes to align with strategic objectives and organizational structures, ultimately achieving competitive advantage. Our study targeted SMEs in the manufacturing and service sectors in Istanbul, Turkey. Using a simple random sampling technique, we invited 475 firms to participate in a survey, yielding 207 usable responses. The data analysis was conducted in three stages: descriptive statistical analysis to illustrate the characteristics of the participating companies and respondents; confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) to test the measurement models and ensure they fit the data; and causal analysis to evaluate the hypothesized relationships among the study's constructs. The findings reveal that process management serves as a critical mediator role in the successful implementation of Industry 4.0. Specifically, the study identifies three primary goals in the Industry 4.0 adoption process: strategic improvement, competitiveness and organizational fit. Effective process management impacts these objectives through two major areas: human resources and operations. This study highlights how I4.0 process management can act as a catalyst in the digital transformation of SMEs, ensuring that human resources and operations are effectively harnessed to drive strategic change and organizational adaptation, and enhanced competitiveness.