Industry 4.0 implementations: a systematic review of approaches and main applicabilities in the broiler meat production chain

SUMMARY The poultry sector has a relevant impact on the socioeconomic indices of countries, employs a significant amount of human labour and contributes economically to revenue generation. Despite the scientific and technological advances implemented, the sector still has a generally low level of technological maturity compared with other sectors. Industry 4.0 strongly focuses on smart manufacturing, including specific principles and technologies. This study aimed to identify Industry 4.0 approaches (technologies, projected benefits and barriers to Industry 4.0) and main applicabilities in the broiler meat production chain in the poultry sector. A systematic review of literature was conducted in three databases, using formal protocols for ordering and selecting bibliographic materials. Two topics were included: general implementations in Industry 4.0 and Industry 4.0 in the poultry sector (broiler production chain). Overall, the benefits of Industry 4.0 are inherent to the economic dimension, with a certain predisposition to integrated dimensions (economic and environmental). The main barriers to Industry 4.0, also known as inhibiting factors, are high investments, the lack of knowledge (generally or through methods or technical procedures), uncertainties in results, and challenges in qualifying human capital. Regarding Industry 4.0 technologies, the most employed in the broiler production chain (aviaries and slaughterhouses, mainly) are artificial intelligence (robots and/or software), Big Data Analytics and the Internet of Things (IoT).