Industry 4.0 and knowledge management: An introduction

Abstract

The fourth industrial revolution promises to deeply transform the business landscape offering new opportunities to create and use knowledge. However, firm’s knowledge management strategies have been supported by technological investments for decades. The chapter explores two prior “revolutions” connected to the digital technologies—ERP and the Web—and their implications for knowledge management dynamics, identifying how Industry 4.0 technologies can further enhance those processes and the related challenges. The main contributions from the book are outlined in terms of relationships between Industry 4.0 technologies and competences and geographical implications, focusing on new firms and connection with the two strategic goals of operational excellence and environmental sustainability.