Analyzing the United Arab Emirates Manufacturing Sector and its Readiness for Industry 4.0

With the emergence of Industry 4.0 technologies, the manufacturing sector will need to adjust its structure, process and products to satisfy the requirements of this transformation. The manufacturing sector in the UAE plays an imperative part in its economic diversification efforts and the pursuit of sustainable economic growth and the government enacted many strategies to support the growth of this sector. This research proposes a framework for evaluating the readiness of the manufacturing sector for Industry 4.0 through a survey questionnaire. Preliminary results show that there is lack of knowledge about Industry 4.0 in general, and specifically when it comes to the potential benefits and expected changes brought by the transformation. The main driver behind implementing Industry 4.0 concept are pressure from rivals and market requirements. Also, certain level of Industry 4.0 technologies exists with the potential to increase the level of adoption. Moreover, there is a gap in the skillset needed for Industry 4.0 and no plans initiated to close this gap. Finally, surveyed companies are still developing their Industry 4.0 strategy and organization culture plays an important role in driving digital transformation.