Assessing the digitalisation level of the Tanzanian apparel industry: Industry 4.0 perspectives

Simple item page
dc.contributor.authorTaifa, Ismail WR
dc.contributor.authorMollel, Joshua Z
dc.contributor.authorNhelekwa, Lucas B
dc.date.accessioned2023-02-08T15:46:39Z
dc.date.available2023-02-08T15:46:39Z
dc.date.issued2022-05-19
dc.description.abstractPurpose Industry 4.0 has an inimitable potential to create competitive advantages for the apparel industry by enhancing productivity, production, profitability, efficiency and effectiveness. This study, thus, aims to assess the digitalisation level of the Tanzanian apparel industry through the Industry 4.0 perspectives. Design/methodology/approach A mixed-methods-based approach was deployed. This study deployed semi-structured interviews, document review and observation methods for the qualitative approach. For the quantitative approach, closed-ended questionnaires were used to ascertain the digitalisation levels and maturity level of the textiles and apparel (T&A) factories and small and medium-sized textile enterprises in Tanzania. The sample size was 110, with participants engaged through the purposive sampling technique. Findings Industry 4.0 frameworks evolved into practices mainly since 2011 in several service and manufacturing industries globally. For Tanzania, the findings indicate that the overall maturity level of the T&A industries is 2.5 out of 5.0, demonstrating a medium level of adoption. Thus, the apparel industries are not operating under the industry 4.0 framework; they are operating within the third industrial revolution – Industry 3.0 – framework. For such industries to operate within the fourth industrial revolution – Industry 4.0 – that is only possible if there is significantly well-developed industrial infrastructure, availability of engineering talent, stable commercial partnerships, demand from the marketplace and transactional relationship with customers. Research limitations/implications This study’s limitations include: firstly, Industry 4.0 is an emerging area; this resulted in limited theoretical underpinnings in the Tanzanian perspectives. Secondly, the studied industries may not suffice the need to generalise the findings for the entire country, thus needing another study. Originality/value Although Industry 4.0 conceptual frameworks have been on trial in several industries since 2011, this is amongst the first empirical research on Industry 4.0 in the Tanzanian apparel industry that assesses the digitalisation levels.en_US
dc.identifier.citationNhelekwa, L.B., Mollel, J.Z. and Taifa, I.W.R. (2022), "Assessing the digitalisation level of the Tanzanian apparel industry: Industry 4.0 perspectives", Research Journal of Textile and Apparel, Vol. ahead-of-print No. ahead-of-print. https://doi.org/10.1108/RJTA-11-2021-0138en_US
dc.identifier.doihttps://doi.org/10.1108/RJTA-11-2021-0138
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11810/5981
dc.language.isoenen_US
dc.publisherEmeralden_US
dc.subjectApparel industryen_US
dc.subjectIndustry 4.0en_US
dc.subjectDigitalisationen_US
dc.subject, Digital transformationen_US
dc.subjectDigitalised technological systemen_US
dc.subjectTanzaniaen_US
dc.titleAssessing the digitalisation level of the Tanzanian apparel industry: Industry 4.0 perspectivesen_US
dc.typeJournal Articleen_US
Files
Original bundle
Now showing 1 - 1 of 1
No Thumbnail Available
Name:
EM-RJTA220027 1..21_Digitalisation.pdf
Size:
53.09 KB
Format:
Adobe Portable Document Format
Description:
Main article
Download
License bundle
Now showing 1 - 1 of 1
No Thumbnail Available
Name:
license.txt
Size:
1.71 KB
Format:
Item-specific license agreed upon to submission
Description:
Download
Collections
Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering