Exploring Factors Influencing the Intention to Introduce Advanced Smart Factory : Focused on Technology, Organization, Environment Framework

With the rapid progress of the 4th industrial revolution, digital transformation is accelerating globally, and countries such as Germany, the United States, Japan, and China are actively adopting smart factories. Since 2014, the Korean government has promoted smart factory adoption among SMEs, supporting 30,144 companies by the end of 2022. However, many remain at the basic stage, implementing only fundamental solutions such as MES and ERP, with insufficient qualitative advancement. To enhance manufacturing competitiveness, transitioning to advanced smart factories is essential. This study surveyed companies beyond the basic level to analyze factors influencing their intention to advance. The results indicate that technical factors, including relative advantage, compatibility, and ease of use, positively impact user satisfaction, which, in turn, influences the intention to advance. Organizational factors, such as the manager’s commitment and ICT capability, also have a significant effect. Among environmental factors, government support positively affects the intention to advance, while financial ability does not show a significant impact. Previous studies have primarily focused on the early adoption stage of smart factories or individual technologies. In contrast, this study provides new insights into the transition toward smart factory advancement, contributing both academically and practically by identifying key factors influencing further implementation.