Evaluation of the degree of implementation of Industry 4.0 technologies in metalworking SMEs using the IMPULS maturity model
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.24054/rcta.v2i46.4180Keywords:
Industry 4.0, SMEs, digital transformation, maturity in industry 4.0, ImpulsAbstract
This study evaluates maturity in the digital transformation of SMEs of the metalworking sector in Boyacá, Colombia, using the promotion model. With a sample of 24 SMEs, a questionnaire was applied to analyze six key dimensions of digitalization. The results show that 83% of the companies are at initial maturity levels, and only 16.4% reaches a level of beginners. The main barriers identified are the lack of financial resources, poor digital infrastructure and low data -based services integration. To move towards a sustainable and competitive digital transformation, it is essential to strengthen digital strategies, human talent and technological infrastructure.
Downloads
Download data is not yet available.
References
Q. Chen, W. Zhang, N. Jin, X. Wang, and P. Dai, “Digital Transformation Evaluation for Small- and Medium-Sized Manufacturing Enterprises Using the Fuzzy Synthetic Method DEMATEL-ANP,” Sustainability, vol. 14, no. 20, p. 13038, Oct. 2022, doi: 10.3390/su142013038.
N. S. S. Carrero, N. M. A. Quintana, and L. M. S. Jaimes, “Lineamientos desde la industria 4.0 a la educación 4.0: caso tecnología IoT,” Revista Colombiana de Tecnologias de Avanzada, vol. 1, no. 39, pp. 81–92, Feb. 2022, doi: 10.24054/rcta.v1i39.1379.
N. S. S. Carrero, N. M. A. Quintana, and L. M. S. Jaimes, “Lineamientos desde la industria 4.0 a la educación 4.0: caso tecnología IoT,” Revista Colombiana de Tecnologias de Avanzada, vol. 1, no. 39, pp. 81–92, Feb. 2022, doi: 10.24054/rcta.v1i39.1379.
J. C. Ferreri, Selección de escritos sobre inteligencia artificial. Inteligencia artificial: Algunos aspectos de su impacto. Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires, Argentina: Academia Nacional de Ciencias de Buenos Aires, 2022. Accessed: Jun. 22, 2025. Available: [https://www.ciencias.org.ar/user/CETI/Compilado%20CETI%20final.pdf]
H. Gimpel, S. Hosseini, R. Huber, L. Probst, M. Roglinger, and U. Faisst, “Structuring Digital Transformation: A Framework of Action Fields and its Application at ZEISS,” Journal of Information Technology Theory and Application, vol. 19, no. 1, Mar. 2018. Accessed: Jun. 22, 2025. Available: [https://aisel.aisnet.org/jitta/vol19/iss1/3]
L. Asuncion Perez Dominguez, J. Roberto Avila Lopez, and D. Luviano Cruz, “Tendencia de la Industria 4.0 comparado con Industria 5.0,” Mundo FESC, vol. 13, no. 25, pp. 7–19, Jan. 2023, doi: 10.61799/2216-0388.1248.
L. Li, F. Su, W. Zhang, and J. Y. Mao, “Digital transformation by SME entrepreneurs: A capability perspective,” Information Systems Journal, vol. 28, no. 6, pp. 1129–1157, Nov. 2018, doi: 10.1111/isj.12153.
J. K. Nwankpa and P. Datta, “Balancing exploration and exploitation of IT resources: The influence of digital business intensity on perceived organizational performance,” European Journal of Information Systems, vol. 26, no. 5, pp. 469–488, Sep. 2017, doi: 10.1057/s41303-017-0049-y.
V. Sánchez-Castillo and P. Antropologia, “Aplicaciones de la tecnología Internet of Things en las ciencias ambientales: un estudio mixto en la base de datos Scopus,” Respuestas, vol. 30, no. 1, pp. 51–66, Dec. 2025, doi: 10.22463/0122820x.4689.
F. Caputo, F. Fiano, T. Riso, M. Romano, and A. Maalaoui, “Digital platforms and international performance of Italian SMEs: an exploitation-based overview,” International Marketing Review, vol. 39, no. 3, pp. 568–585, Jun. 2022, doi: 10.1108/imr-02-2021-0102.
M. I. Guerrero-Molina, Y. A. Vásquez-Suárez, and D. M. Valdés-Mosquera, “Industria 4.0, aplicación y tecnologías de la información en instalaciones portuarias de América Latina,” AiBi Revista de Investigación Administración e Ingeniería, vol. 12, no. 1, pp. 230–243, Jan. 2024, doi: 10.15649/2346030x.3468.
Organización de las Naciones Unidas para el Desarrollo Industrial, “Informe sobre el desarrollo industrial 2024,” 2025. Accessed: Jun. 18, 2025. Available: [https://www.unido.org/sites/default/files/unido-publications/2024-02/IDR24-Overview-SP.pdf]
M. K. Borstnar and A. Pucihar, “Multi-Attribute Assessment of Digital Maturity of SMEs,” Electronics, vol. 10, no. 8, p. 885, Apr. 2021, doi: 10.3390/electronics10080885.
J. Jeansson and K. Bredmar, “Digital Transformation of SMEs: Capturing Complexity,” BLED Proceedings, Jan. 2019, doi: 10.18690/978-961-286-280-0.28.
S. U. Rehman, F. Jabeen, K. Shahzad, A. Riaz, and A. Bhatti, “Industry 4.0 technologies and international performance of SMEs: mediated-moderated perspectives,” International Entrepreneurship and Management Journal, vol. 21, no. 1, pp. 1–32, Dec. 2025, doi: 10.1007/s11365-024-01048-3.
C. Ünal, C. Sungur, and H. Yildirim, “Application of the Maturity Model in Industrial Corporations,” Sustainability, vol. 14, no. 15, p. 9478, Aug. 2022, doi: 10.3390/su14159478.
A. Marrucci, R. Rialti, and M. Balzano, “Exploring paths underlying Industry 4.0 implementation in manufacturing SMEs: a fuzzy-set qualitative comparative analysis,” Management Decision, vol. 63, no. 6, pp. 1936–1959, Jun. 2023, doi: 10.1108/md-05-2022-0644.
R. Ricci, D. Battaglia, and P. Neirotti, “External knowledge search, opportunity recognition and Industry 4.0 adoption in SMEs,” International Journal of Production Economics, vol. 240, p. 108234, Oct. 2021, doi: 10.1016/j.ijpe.2021.108234.
A. de M. Santos, A. M. de O. Sant’Anna, A. S. Barbosa, A. M. Becker, and N. F. Ayala, “Multi-criteria decision-making model for sustainability functions integrated Industry 4.0 technologies within small and medium enterprises in emerging countries,” International Journal of Productivity and Performance Management, May 2024, doi: 10.1108/ijppm-10-2023-0557.
D. A. Contreras Stucchi and W. L. Vasquez Robles, “Implementación de un plan de mejora para la planificación de proyectos a través de la metodología lean para incrementar la eficiencia de una pyme metalmecánica del sector industrial en Lima,” 2024.
E. Arriola Ruiz, “La adopción de la Industria 4.0 en Ciudad Juárez y su impacto sobre las empresas de manufactura y sus trabajadores,” Universidad Autónoma de Ciudad Juárez, 2022. Accessed: Jun. 23, 2025. Available: [http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11961/6197]
A. Guimaraes Rehbein Satlher, P. Reis, and A. J. Marques, “Bibliometric Analysis of Studies on Industry 4.0 Maturity Assessment in SMEs,” Millenium, no. 16, p. 18, 2025. Accessed: Jun. 19, 2025. Available: [https://dialnet.unirioja.es/servlet/articulo?codigo=9991789]
Ministerio de las Tecnologías de la Información y las Comunicaciones de Colombia, “Aspectos básicos de la Industria 4.0.” Accessed: Jun. 18, 2025. Available: [https://colombiatic.mintic.gov.co/679/w3-article-124767.html]
J. Marcela, L. Fernández, D. Liseth, B. Barrero, L. Andrea, and R. Rojas, “Industria 4.0: el reto para las pymes manufactureras de Bogotá, Colombia,” Revista Mutis, vol. 12, no. 1, Jan. 2022, doi: 10.21789/22561498.1784.
J. Coronado, J. Díaz, I. Paredes, M. Martínez, and F. Otero, “Estado del arte de la situación de la industria 4.0 en Colombia con énfasis en el sector industrial metalmecánico en la ciudad de Barranquilla,” Universidad Simón Bolívar, 2022. Accessed: Jun. 22, 2025. Available: [https://bonga.unisimon.edu.co/server/api/core/bitstreams/21b3111c-c353-4914-9c05-063b7d7b81f6/content]
D. S. Muñoz-Pinzón, K. T. Valencia-Rivero, Y. P. Caviativa-Castro, and J. S. Castillo-Bustos, “Estado actual de la adopción de la industria 4.0 en pymes colombianas: desafíos y oportunidades,” Revista Politécnica, vol. 20, no. 39, pp. 99–118, Mar. 2024, doi: 10.33571/rpolitec.v20n39a7.
A. Sajjad et al., “Assessment by Lean Modified Manufacturing Maturity Model for Industry 4.0: A Case Study of Pakistan’s Manufacturing Sector,” IEEE Transactions on Engineering Management, vol. 71, pp. 6420–6434, 2024, doi: 10.1109/tem.2023.3259005.
K. Lichtblau et al., “Industrie 4.0 Readiness.” Accessed: Jun. 23, 2025. Available: [https://www.industrie40-readiness.de](https://www.industrie40-readiness.de)
I. Etikan, S. A. Musa, and R. S. Alkassim, “Comparison of Convenience Sampling and Purposive Sampling,” American Journal of Theoretical and Applied Statistics, vol. 5, no. 1, pp. 1–4, Dec. 2015, doi: 10.11648/j.ajtas.20160501.11.
N. S. S. Carrero, N. M. A. Quintana, and L. M. S. Jaimes, “Lineamientos desde la industria 4.0 a la educación 4.0: caso tecnología IoT,” Revista Colombiana de Tecnologias de Avanzada, vol. 1, no. 39, pp. 81–92, Feb. 2022, doi: 10.24054/rcta.v1i39.1379.
N. S. S. Carrero, N. M. A. Quintana, and L. M. S. Jaimes, “Lineamientos desde la industria 4.0 a la educación 4.0: caso tecnología IoT,” Revista Colombiana de Tecnologias de Avanzada, vol. 1, no. 39, pp. 81–92, Feb. 2022, doi: 10.24054/rcta.v1i39.1379.
J. C. Ferreri, Selección de escritos sobre inteligencia artificial. Inteligencia artificial: Algunos aspectos de su impacto. Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires, Argentina: Academia Nacional de Ciencias de Buenos Aires, 2022. Accessed: Jun. 22, 2025. Available: [https://www.ciencias.org.ar/user/CETI/Compilado%20CETI%20final.pdf]
H. Gimpel, S. Hosseini, R. Huber, L. Probst, M. Roglinger, and U. Faisst, “Structuring Digital Transformation: A Framework of Action Fields and its Application at ZEISS,” Journal of Information Technology Theory and Application, vol. 19, no. 1, Mar. 2018. Accessed: Jun. 22, 2025. Available: [https://aisel.aisnet.org/jitta/vol19/iss1/3]
L. Asuncion Perez Dominguez, J. Roberto Avila Lopez, and D. Luviano Cruz, “Tendencia de la Industria 4.0 comparado con Industria 5.0,” Mundo FESC, vol. 13, no. 25, pp. 7–19, Jan. 2023, doi: 10.61799/2216-0388.1248.
L. Li, F. Su, W. Zhang, and J. Y. Mao, “Digital transformation by SME entrepreneurs: A capability perspective,” Information Systems Journal, vol. 28, no. 6, pp. 1129–1157, Nov. 2018, doi: 10.1111/isj.12153.
J. K. Nwankpa and P. Datta, “Balancing exploration and exploitation of IT resources: The influence of digital business intensity on perceived organizational performance,” European Journal of Information Systems, vol. 26, no. 5, pp. 469–488, Sep. 2017, doi: 10.1057/s41303-017-0049-y.
V. Sánchez-Castillo and P. Antropologia, “Aplicaciones de la tecnología Internet of Things en las ciencias ambientales: un estudio mixto en la base de datos Scopus,” Respuestas, vol. 30, no. 1, pp. 51–66, Dec. 2025, doi: 10.22463/0122820x.4689.
F. Caputo, F. Fiano, T. Riso, M. Romano, and A. Maalaoui, “Digital platforms and international performance of Italian SMEs: an exploitation-based overview,” International Marketing Review, vol. 39, no. 3, pp. 568–585, Jun. 2022, doi: 10.1108/imr-02-2021-0102.
M. I. Guerrero-Molina, Y. A. Vásquez-Suárez, and D. M. Valdés-Mosquera, “Industria 4.0, aplicación y tecnologías de la información en instalaciones portuarias de América Latina,” AiBi Revista de Investigación Administración e Ingeniería, vol. 12, no. 1, pp. 230–243, Jan. 2024, doi: 10.15649/2346030x.3468.
Organización de las Naciones Unidas para el Desarrollo Industrial, “Informe sobre el desarrollo industrial 2024,” 2025. Accessed: Jun. 18, 2025. Available: [https://www.unido.org/sites/default/files/unido-publications/2024-02/IDR24-Overview-SP.pdf]
M. K. Borstnar and A. Pucihar, “Multi-Attribute Assessment of Digital Maturity of SMEs,” Electronics, vol. 10, no. 8, p. 885, Apr. 2021, doi: 10.3390/electronics10080885.
J. Jeansson and K. Bredmar, “Digital Transformation of SMEs: Capturing Complexity,” BLED Proceedings, Jan. 2019, doi: 10.18690/978-961-286-280-0.28.
S. U. Rehman, F. Jabeen, K. Shahzad, A. Riaz, and A. Bhatti, “Industry 4.0 technologies and international performance of SMEs: mediated-moderated perspectives,” International Entrepreneurship and Management Journal, vol. 21, no. 1, pp. 1–32, Dec. 2025, doi: 10.1007/s11365-024-01048-3.
C. Ünal, C. Sungur, and H. Yildirim, “Application of the Maturity Model in Industrial Corporations,” Sustainability, vol. 14, no. 15, p. 9478, Aug. 2022, doi: 10.3390/su14159478.
A. Marrucci, R. Rialti, and M. Balzano, “Exploring paths underlying Industry 4.0 implementation in manufacturing SMEs: a fuzzy-set qualitative comparative analysis,” Management Decision, vol. 63, no. 6, pp. 1936–1959, Jun. 2023, doi: 10.1108/md-05-2022-0644.
R. Ricci, D. Battaglia, and P. Neirotti, “External knowledge search, opportunity recognition and Industry 4.0 adoption in SMEs,” International Journal of Production Economics, vol. 240, p. 108234, Oct. 2021, doi: 10.1016/j.ijpe.2021.108234.
A. de M. Santos, A. M. de O. Sant’Anna, A. S. Barbosa, A. M. Becker, and N. F. Ayala, “Multi-criteria decision-making model for sustainability functions integrated Industry 4.0 technologies within small and medium enterprises in emerging countries,” International Journal of Productivity and Performance Management, May 2024, doi: 10.1108/ijppm-10-2023-0557.
D. A. Contreras Stucchi and W. L. Vasquez Robles, “Implementación de un plan de mejora para la planificación de proyectos a través de la metodología lean para incrementar la eficiencia de una pyme metalmecánica del sector industrial en Lima,” 2024.
E. Arriola Ruiz, “La adopción de la Industria 4.0 en Ciudad Juárez y su impacto sobre las empresas de manufactura y sus trabajadores,” Universidad Autónoma de Ciudad Juárez, 2022. Accessed: Jun. 23, 2025. Available: [http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11961/6197]
A. Guimaraes Rehbein Satlher, P. Reis, and A. J. Marques, “Bibliometric Analysis of Studies on Industry 4.0 Maturity Assessment in SMEs,” Millenium, no. 16, p. 18, 2025. Accessed: Jun. 19, 2025. Available: [https://dialnet.unirioja.es/servlet/articulo?codigo=9991789]
Ministerio de las Tecnologías de la Información y las Comunicaciones de Colombia, “Aspectos básicos de la Industria 4.0.” Accessed: Jun. 18, 2025. Available: [https://colombiatic.mintic.gov.co/679/w3-article-124767.html]
J. Marcela, L. Fernández, D. Liseth, B. Barrero, L. Andrea, and R. Rojas, “Industria 4.0: el reto para las pymes manufactureras de Bogotá, Colombia,” Revista Mutis, vol. 12, no. 1, Jan. 2022, doi: 10.21789/22561498.1784.
J. Coronado, J. Díaz, I. Paredes, M. Martínez, and F. Otero, “Estado del arte de la situación de la industria 4.0 en Colombia con énfasis en el sector industrial metalmecánico en la ciudad de Barranquilla,” Universidad Simón Bolívar, 2022. Accessed: Jun. 22, 2025. Available: [https://bonga.unisimon.edu.co/server/api/core/bitstreams/21b3111c-c353-4914-9c05-063b7d7b81f6/content]
D. S. Muñoz-Pinzón, K. T. Valencia-Rivero, Y. P. Caviativa-Castro, and J. S. Castillo-Bustos, “Estado actual de la adopción de la industria 4.0 en pymes colombianas: desafíos y oportunidades,” Revista Politécnica, vol. 20, no. 39, pp. 99–118, Mar. 2024, doi: 10.33571/rpolitec.v20n39a7.
A. Sajjad et al., “Assessment by Lean Modified Manufacturing Maturity Model for Industry 4.0: A Case Study of Pakistan’s Manufacturing Sector,” IEEE Transactions on Engineering Management, vol. 71, pp. 6420–6434, 2024, doi: 10.1109/tem.2023.3259005.
K. Lichtblau et al., “Industrie 4.0 Readiness.” Accessed: Jun. 23, 2025. Available: [https://www.industrie40-readiness.de](https://www.industrie40-readiness.de)
I. Etikan, S. A. Musa, and R. S. Alkassim, “Comparison of Convenience Sampling and Purposive Sampling,” American Journal of Theoretical and Applied Statistics, vol. 5, no. 1, pp. 1–4, Dec. 2015, doi: 10.11648/j.ajtas.20160501.11.
Downloads
Published
2025-10-15
Issue
Section
Artículos
License
Copyright (c) 2025 Hugo Fernando Castro Silva, Marling Carolina Cordero Díaz, Cristian Camilo Chaparro Serrano
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.
How to Cite
[1]
“Evaluation of the degree of implementation of Industry 4.0 technologies in metalworking SMEs using the IMPULS maturity model”, RCTA, vol. 2, no. 46, pp. 217–225, Oct. 2025, doi: 10.24054/rcta.v2i46.4180.
