L60 - Industry Studies: Manufacturing: GeneralReturn

The main aim of this paper is to evaluate whether the concept of Industry 4.0 influences current change management in small and medium-sized enterprises and what obstacles prevent its wider implementation. An online questionnaire survey was conducted in 2024 to collect data, with 203 respondents from small and medium-sized enterprises participating. The questionnaire focused primarily on topics related to the implementation of changes, awareness of Industry 4.0, and the identification of barriers to the further development of change management and modern technologies. The results show that systematic change management is often neglected in companies, and it was also found that this is particularly the case where the perception of the importance of Industry 4.0 is low. It was also found that companies with a functioning strategy are more successful in implementing change. Financial costs, insufficient employee qualifications, and employee resistance can be identified as important barriers, with these barriers particularly affecting small and micro enterprises. Factor analysis also found that the barriers can be grouped into two main categories. The research confirms that successfully managing change in the era of digitalization requires a systematic approach, management support, and knowledge of change management principles. The paper represents one phase of a broader research project.

During recent years, the supply chain performance management has become a key strategic consideration. Many manufacturers seek to collaborate with their suppliers and customers in order to upgrade their competitiveness and management performance. Because of complexity, uncertainty and vagueness inherent in supply chains, performance measurement using fuzzy approach was also identified as a new research direction. The main aim of the paper is focused on evaluation of logistic dimensions (sets of logistic indicators) in supply chain, where the uncertainty arises from the inability to perform adequate measurement, and deals with application of fuzzy approach, that provides a formal method for modeling imprecise, vagueness or incomplete relationships inherent in supply chains. Gathered data from questionnaires are analyzed by cluster analysis. Afterwards fuzzy methods are used evaluations of basic five dimensions, which contain several numbers of logistic indicators. The new methodology adopted from Soyer, Kabak, Asan (2007) research based on the intersection of fuzzy sets and fuzzy entropy method has been applied to evaluations in a case study. Results are afterwards modified by a applying of different membership functions, and changes of dimensions measures are analyzed. Finally supply chain modifying by adding new companies with capability of bind to supply chain are examined. New results of evaluation are compared according to new companies' membership to different clusters.