The digitalization of industrial production, known as industry 4.0, is still in its infancy in Brazil. In 2022, the country’s National Confederation of Industry (CNI) found that only 7% of companies used technologies such as artificial intelligence, 3D prototyping, and automation at all stages of the production chain. Now, a survey of 99 Brazilian companies by the Federal University of Ouro Preto (UFOP) has revealed some of the key obstacles. Access to new technologies has emerged as one of the main barriers, even for large companies. To reach Germany’s technological level, for example, Brazil would need 165,000 more industrial robots, which would take more than 100 years at the current rate. Because the concept is so new, there is a lack of technological standards to guide investments according to the specific elements of each sector. Another obstacle is high costs. According to the latest study, implementing industry 4.0 initiatives would require a 50% increase in investment over five years. And the willingness to spend is hindered by a lack of understanding of the benefits and resistance to adopting new technologies. Spending a lot of money without the security of a qualified workforce while maintaining production and up-to-date accounts is an insurmountable barrier for most (Special CNI survey, April 2022; TQM Journal, January 2024).
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