Abstract:
The apparel industry of Sri Lanka is undergoing a significant transformation through the integration of Industry 4.0 (I4.0) technologies, which encompass cyber-physical systems, Internet of Things (IoT), artificial intelligence, big data analytics, cloud computing, and additive manufacturing, due to the potential benefits of these advanced technologies.
However, their successful implementation requires a comprehensive understanding of the complex interrelationships between key technological components. This research examines the interrelationship of technological components in implementing Industry 4.0 technologies within the Sri Lankan apparel industry, utilising the THIO Framework, which categorises these components into four groups: Technoware, Humanware, Inforware, and Orgware.
The study employed a mixed-methods approach, combining qualitative semi-structured interviews with twelve industry experts and quantitative questionnaire surveys with seven respondents to gather comprehensive insights. Thematic analysis was conducted on interview responses to identify current applications and challenges of I4.0 technologies, while MICMAC (Cross-Impact Matrix Multiplication Applied to Classification) analysis was used to examine the driving and dependence power of thirty-six sub-components across the four technological categories. The research findings reveal that the Sri Lankan apparel industry has adopted various I4.0 technologies, including industrial robots, automation systems, IoT-RFID integration, smart manufacturing systems, computer vision, and business intelligence tools. However, implementation faces challenges due to high initial investment costs, a shortage of skilled workforce, integration difficulties with legacy systems, and employee resistance to change. MICMAC analysis identified four distinct clusters of components: autonomous components with minimal influence, dependent components with strong dependence but weak driving power, linkage components with both strong driving and dependence power, and independent components with strong driving power but minimal dependence. Technical and operational skills, leadership skills, teamwork, responsibility and discipline are found to be critical factors with high driving power, while IoT, AI, cloud computing, and cyber- physical systems show high dependence on other components. Further, it is found that successful I4.0 implementation within the industry requires coordinated management of all four technological components, with specific attention to developing human capabilities and organisational readiness along with technological infrastructure.
