Implementing Industry 4.0 in Production Planning and Control : A study of Organizational Challenges and Expectations in a Project-Oriented Manufacturing Context

The integration of Industry 4.0 technologies is transforming industrial operations. In Production Planning and Control (PPC), this digital shift introduces both opportunities and challenges, especially in project-based and complex production environments.This study aims to explore how the implementation of digital tools affects PPC in a complex and project-based industrial setting, with a specific focus on decision-making, required competencies, and organizational challenges. A qualitative case study was conducted at NKT in Karlskrona, Sweden, involving six semi-structured interviews with professionals working in PPC and digitalization. The collected data was analyzed thematically from a socio-technical systems perspective.The findings highlight five main challenges to digital implementation: limited system trust, difficulty integrating soft values, unclear responsibility, insufficient training, and resistance to change. Six key competencies emerged as needed for effective PPC in a digital environment: analytical skills, process knowledge, collaboration, adaptability, IT and data literacy, and system-specific knowledge. Furthermore, five decision-making factors were identified: shared responsibility structures, time-sensitive complexity, top-down directives, the need for structured data, and the combination of intuition and data. In conclusion, not only technical implementation is required for a successful digitalization of PPC, but also organizational alignment, competence development, and trust building. This study contributes to a deeper understanding of the socio-technical interplay in PPC and offers practical implications for managing digital transitions in complex production environments.