Digital Competencies to Introduce Industry 4.0 in Swiss SMEs

Abstract

This master thesis identifies the digital competencies to be developed to close the existing digital competence gap in Swiss MEM SMEs. Industry 4.0 has a range of implications that companies need to deal with. SMEs are particularly challenged because they often have fewer resources yet play a decisive economic role in the Swiss machine-, electrical and metal industry. A study by the industry association Swissmem revealed that half of all Swiss MEM SMEs identify a lack of digital competencies as an obstacle to the implementation of Industry 4.0, however, without having them specified. Furthermore, the study shows that managing digital competencies ranks last among the internal activities that foster the transition. This multi-case study identified the digital competencies that need to be developed to close the existing digital skills gap in Swiss MEM SMEs. It examined the organizational levels where digital competency is lacking, the reasons for the limited activity around digital competence development and how it must be approached to avoid a lack of digital competence in the future.