The relationship between Fourth Industrial Revolution technologies and
innovation makes for an interesting case, as innovation seeks to unlock
a level of competitiveness for its users, the extent of which is covered
in this research paper. The premise of this study is that subsidiary firms
lend themselves to the practice of process innovation. The focus of this
study was on a South African automotive subsidiary firm, and a case
study methodology was adopted. Data was collected in the form of
questionnaire responses from specialists and interview feedback from
managers in order to derive insights that would inform the state of firms’
technological capabilities, the dynamics behind them, and the
leapfrogging measures that might be taken. This study showed that the
current state of technological capabilities in the sample firm ranged
from inadequate to satisfactory. Three priority areas were defined:
robotics, big data and cloud computing, and advanced manufacturing
systems. The workers’ mindsets were found to be a serious barrier to
taking full advantage of Fourth Industrial Revolution technologies. This
study covered measures that would be necessary to ensure a successful
digital transformation, best realised through an incremental innovation
strategy. The main metrics of firm competitiveness were outlined as
quality, volume, and cost, all of which could be influenced by process
innovations.
Die verhouding tussen Vierde Industriële Revolusie-tegnologieë en
innovasie is interessant, aangesien innovasie poog om 'n vlak van
mededingendheid vir sy gebruikers te ontsluit, waarvan die omvang in
hierdie navorsingsartikel gedek word. Die uitgangspunt van hierdie
studie is dat filiaalfirmas hulle tot die praktyk van prosesinnovasie leen.
Die fokus van hierdie studie was op 'n Suid-Afrikaanse motorfiliaalfirma,
en 'n gevallestudiemetodologie was gebruik. Data was ingesamel van
vraelysreaksies van spesialiste en terugvoer van onderhoude met
bestuurders ten einde insigte te verkry wat die stand van ondernemings
se tegnologiese vermoë, die dinamika daaragter en die sprongmaatreëls
wat geneem kan word, sou inlig. Hierdie studie het getoon dat die
huidige stand van tegnologiese vermoë in die steekproeffirma gewissel
het van onvoldoende tot bevredigend. Drie prioriteitsareas is
gedefinieer: robotika, groot data en wolkverwerking, en gevorderde
vervaardigingstelsels. Daar is gevind dat die werkers se ingesteldheid 'n
ernstige struikelblok is om die Vierde Industriële Revolusie-tegnologie
ten volle te benut. Hierdie studie het maatreëls gedek wat nodig sou
wees om 'n suksesvolle digitale transformasie te verseker, wat die beste
gerealiseer word deur 'n inkrementele innovasiestrategie. Die
belangrikste maatstawwe van firma mededingendheid is uiteengesit as
kwaliteit, volume en koste, wat alles deur prosesinnovasies beïnvloed
kan word.
