Exploring the potential of industry 4.0 in manufacturing and supply chain systems: Insights and emerging trends from bibliometric analysis

Abstract

The synergy between Industry 4.0, production, and supply chain management is transforming industrial ecosystems, enabling more intelligent, automated, and interconnected systems. This study presents a comprehensive bibliometric analysis of academic literature on Industry 4.0 technologies within these domains from 2011 to 2024. It aims to identify key research trends, major contributors, and emerging themes shaping this field. A systematic search in the Scopus database initially retrieved 679 records, with 104 selected based on inclusion and exclusion criteria. The analysis follows the PRISMA methodology for systematic reviews and utilizes Biblioshiny and VOSviewer to examine co-authorship networks, keyword co-occurrences, and citation patterns, providing a detailed assessment of research performance. The results indicate a significant increase in research output, particularly in the integration of Internet of Things, Artificial Intelligence, and big data analytics into production and supply chain systems. These technologies contribute to enhanced operational efficiency, product quality, and value chain management. The study also identifies the most influential authors, institutions, and countries. Furthermore, the findings highlight the increasing importance of emerging technologies such as IoT and blockchain in promoting sustainability, alongside the rising recognition of social and environmental dimensions in supply chain management. By mapping research trends and identifying key contributions, this bibliometric review offers valuable insights for researchers, practitioners, and policymakers. It underscores the transformative potential of Industry 4.0 in reshaping production and supply chains while outlining future research directions, particularly regarding technological integration, sustainability challenges, and the necessity of global cooperation to advance smart and sustainable supply chains.