Document Type : Research Paper

Authors

• Mohammad Rahim Ramazanian ¹
• Marjan Khodaparast Nodehei ²
• Reza Sheikh ³

¹ Associate Professor, Department of Management, Faculty of Management and Economics, University of Guilan, Rasht, Ir

² Master of Student of Industrial Management (Production and Operation), Department of Management, Faculty of Management and Economics, University of Guilan, Rasht, Iran.

³ Associate Professor, Department of Management, Faculty of Industrial Engineering and Management, Shahrood University of Technology, Semnan, Iran.

Abstract

Digital transformation and Industry 4.0 have emerged as key drivers for enhancing competitiveness and improving product quality across various industries, particularly in the automotive parts sector. This research focuses on Gilan Province, examining the extent of Industry 4.0 technologies' implementation aimed at increasing product longevity. Initially, through qualitative content analysis of 35 articles published between 2016 and 2024, 16 sub-criteria were identified within four main groups. Subsequently, using the novel OPLO-POCOD method (Opportunity Lost Assessment Based on Distance in Polar Coordinate Space) and surveying 14 experts from 10 parts manufacturing companies, the performance of these companies was analyzed.The results indicated that criteria such as automated warehousing systems, inventory management automation, and blockchain-based tracking had the highest impact on increasing product lifespan, with the lowest opportunity loss values of 0.0231, 0.0242, and 0.0253, respectively. On the other hand, the physical-information integration of the supply chain using cloud computing is still in the early stages of implementation.This research uniquely combines qualitative analyses with the innovative OPLO-POCOD method, enabling precise ranking of companies and identification of execution gaps. The findings emphasize the importance of focusing on smart technologies to achieve more sustainable and competitive production, assisting managers and policymakers in prioritizing Industry 4.0 strategies. Overall, while automotive parts industries in Gilan have made progress in areas such as automated warehousing, there is a need to accelerate the implementation of new technologies like cloud computing to fully realize the benefits of Industry 4.0 and complete the digital transformation process.

Keywords

• Industry 4.0
• OPLO-POCOD method
• Product lifetime extension
• Qualitative content analysis

Main Subjects

• production and operations management