How to Prepare Your Workforce for Industry 4.0

This research asks how organisational learning helps manufacturers to create competitiveness for Industry 4.0 deployments.
Vijaya Sunder M
Assistant Professor of Operations Management (Practice) and the Programme Director of ISB’s Operational Excellence for Leaders Programme. His research focuses on operational excellence, project management, behavioural operations, and human-AI collaboration.

Video Summary

As the world shifts towards digitalisation, Industry 4.0 has become a key goal and a challenge, especially for manufacturers. A Gartner survey found that 59% of firms say they lack people with the right skills for technology deployment. In this episode of The Big Picture, Professor Vijay Sundar draws on a study he co-authored to show how firms can close this gap. Based on data from 246 manufacturers across 12 developing countries, the research defines the three levels of learning as awareness, adoption, and reflection that shape successful Industry 4.0 deployments.

Authored by ISB Editorial

Disclaimer: This video features research and insights developed at the Indian School of Business. While interpretations are those of the researchers, the content reflects ISB’s commitment to rigorous, impactful scholarship. The material is intended to inform, provoke thought, and support informed decision-making. It does not constitute professional advice or institutional endorsement of specific outcomes.