Development of Knowledge Capability Model for Industry 4.0: A Thai SMEs Perspective

Abstract

The concept of Industry 4.0 has provoked both academia and industry professionals to explore its potentials in uplifting business performances and to gain competitive advantages. Whilst the amount of advancement in manufacturing technologies and development of more efficient production systems, the involvement of skills and Knowledge Capability (KC) and transferability are also equally, or in some cases, more significant than the aforementioned. The screening properties for specific operations and knowledge is suggested to prevent situation in which the person is unable to perform the tasks. This research aims to identify the indicators related to KC of a Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) in the era of Industry 4.0. A Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA) was used to identify the four dimensions of knowledge, namely: qualifications and skills, knowledge acquisition, knowledge sharing, and knowledge application, along with its factor loadings. The indicators are later examined in the Software Process Improvement and Capability Determination (SPICE) Model to measure the readiness of a company in preparing for Industry 4.0. The aim of this paper is to operationalize and standardize a KC model for SMEs and to identify the support needed for the future industrial challenges.