Examining the interconnected factors of maintenance 4.0 and sustainable manufacturing performance: an integrated hybrid Fuzzy DEMATEL - ISM Approach

Purpose: Implementing Industry 4.0 in manufacturing organizations can help them in establishing predictive maintenance, and fostering sustainability. This study aims to explore Maintenance 4.0’s impact on sustainable manufacturing performance within a leading Steel Company.Design/methodology/approach: Initially, 28 valid indicators have been identified through insights from the company’s managers. A sequential algorithm integrating Fuzzy DEMATEL and Interpretive Structural Modeling (ISM) has been then utilized to elucidate the intensity and direction of effects among the indicators.Findings: Findings reveal that the “social” dimension of sustainable manufacturing had the most significant influence on other sustainability dimensions, while the” economic” dimension was found as the most influenced item. “Real-time communication” and “collaboration among humans, machines, and sensors” emerged as the most potent capabilities of Maintenance 4.0 for enhancing product sustainability. The item Operating costs was addressed as a key performance indicator.Practical implications: Based on the proposed approach of this study, organizations can enhance their understanding of Maintenance 4.0, optimize their sustainable manufacturing performance, and contribute to a more environmentally responsible and socially conscious approach to production.Originality/Value: This study underscores the intertwining nature of digitalization and sustainability, highlighting their potential synergy in driving performance indicators within a company. While previous research has predominantly focused on traditional maintenance performance metrics, overlooking the comprehensive effects of Industry 4.0 and its technologies on maintenance and manufacturing performance, this study fills such a gap by employing a hybrid Fuzzy DEMATEL-ISM approach.