A Conceptual Framework for Industrial Digital Transformation in the COVID-19 Pandemic Era

Dimitris Mourtzis; Nikos Panopoulos; George Gigis; John Angelopoulos

doi:10.1016/j.procir.2022.09.022

A Conceptual Framework for Industrial Digital Transformation in the COVID-19 Pandemic Era

Procedia CIRP. 2022:112:45-50. doi: 10.1016/j.procir.2022.09.022. Epub 2022 Sep 22.

Authors

Dimitris Mourtzis¹, Nikos Panopoulos¹, George Gigis¹, John Angelopoulos¹

Affiliation

¹ Laboratory for Manufacturing Systems and Automation (LMS), Department of Mechanical Engineering and Aeronautics, University of Patras, Rio Patras, 26504 Greece.

Abstract

Manufacturing has been hugely affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, with many critical global value chains either halted or seriously interrupted. Most interactions with customers and employees have to take place in a contactless or virtual way. As such, digital operation is the way to remain in business through mandatory shutdowns and restricted activity. To that end, this paper presents a literature review on the acceleration of the digital transformation triggered by COVID-19 as a catalyst in the utilization of Industry 4.0 technologies. Furthermore, a conceptual framework for digital transformation and Small Medium Enterprises (SMEs) business models change is proposed.

Keywords: COVID-19; Digital Transformation; Industry 4.0.