Unlocking digitalization in the spool fabrication industry: analysis of roadblocks using the IMF-SWARA integrated TFBM

Abstract

Digitalization is the prominent strategy in the industrial sector for overcoming the unsustainable and conventional manufacturing system. The implementation of digital technologies had fostered the industry to automate or semi-automate their process and system leading to minimum utilization of resources, effective waste management system and reduces the pollution and emissions. The scenario in spool fabrication industry is entirely different than the other sectors of industries. The implementation of digital technologies is at infancy stage in the spool fabrication industries. Moreover, there also exists a dearth of research on digitalization in the spool fabrication industry. The current study focuses on the analysis and prioritization of the digitalization barrier in the spool fabrication industry by deploying the IMF-SWARA mixed integrated method. Through the systematic literature review the extreme financial hardship and diverse products mix in the spool fabrication industry, rigidity for transformation at the managerial, stakeholder and shopfloor level, insufficient proficiency and insufficient instruction of human capital in digital transformation, inconsistencies and security threat in handling bulk amount of data and lack of digitalized infrastructure and standardization are identified. Financial hardship and Organizational rigidity are the prominent barriers of digitalization in the spool fabrication industry impeding the digitalization. The current work will provide guidelines for implementing the digitalization in the spool fabrication industry.