Digital transformation of the Portuguese footwear industry

Abstract

Technology is evolving the fastest it has ever been, and not following innovation can be life-threatening for any company. The Fourth Industrial Revolution is based on interconnection, transparency, and decentralization to achieve smart factories. Using Industry 4.0 technological pillars is essential to transforming industrial production, increasing productivity, efficiency, and quality while reducing costs and waste. The footwear industry has significant importance in the Portuguese economy. As part of the fashion industry, it is expected to innovate and create trends while maintaining classiness and timelessness, making it unique and complex. Furthermore, since Industry 4.0 is a currently highly studied and talked-about topic, it only makes sense to understand the adoption state of Industry 4.0 technology in such a complex industry as the Portuguese footwear industry. The study used qualitative exploratory research, collecting insight from footwear companies and the sector associations, through direct observations, via shopfloor visits, and semi-structured interviews, where key participants discussed the level of Industry 4.0 implementation. Despite having motivation, there is a long way to go. Although some of the technologies of Industry 4.0 are heavily utilized, such as simulation and horizontal and vertical integration, companies need more Industry 4.0 literacy to move towards an integral and effective implementation. A cluster composed mainly of microenterprises, paired with strong resistance to change and where the handmade aspect is valued, hinders the adoption of Industry 4.0. Although changing slowly, it is an industry with the potential to participate in Industry 4.0.

Date of Award	26 Oct 2023
Original language	English
Awarding Institution	Universidade Católica Portuguesa
Supervisor	Jorge Julião (Supervisor) & Marcelo Rudolfo Calvete Gaspar (Co-Supervisor)