Integration of continuous improvement strategies with Industry 4.0: a systematic review and agenda for further research

Purpose - The purpose of this paper is to provide a review of the history, trends and needs of continuous improvement (CI) and Industry 4.0. Four strategies are reviewed, namely, Lean, Six Sigma, Kaizen and Sustainability. Design/methodology/approach - Digitalization and CI practices contribute to a major transformation in industrial practices. There exists a need to amalgamate Industry 4.0 technologies with CI strategies to ensure significant benefits. A systematic literature review methodology has been followed to review CI strategy and Industry 4.0 papers (n = 92). Findings - Various frameworks of Industry 4.0, their advantages and disadvantages were explored. A conceptual framework integrating CI strategies and Industry 4.0 is being presented in this paper. Practical implications - The benefits and practical application of the developed framework has been presented. Originality/value - The article is an attempt to review CI strategies with Industry 4.0. A conceptual framework for the integration is also being presented.

Automated summary

This paper reviews the history, trends, and needs of continuous improvement and Industry 4.0, examining strategies such as Lean, Six Sigma, Kaizen, and Sustainability. Through a systematic literature review, a conceptual framework integrating CI strategies and Industry 4.0 is presented for significant benefits.