The impact of industry 4.0 on organisations and worker skills: the case of the Brazilian automotive modular consortium

Purpose This paper aims to identify the impact of Industry 4.0 (I4.0) implementation on organisations and worker skills in the modular consortium automotive model. Design/methodology/approach A qualitative approach is applied based on semi-structured interviews with ten (10) managers, from seven (7) complex integrated automotive companies, responsible for the I4.0 implementation in truck assembly lines at the Brazilian Automotive Modular Consortium (BAMC). Findings Results highlighting the impact on organisations were classified under two broad areas: “Technology” and “Knowledge Management”. “Technology” related findings indicate technical and managerial demands to be developed in relation to different I4.0 technologies, influencing managers’ perspective during the technological implementation process. Findings related to “Knowledge Management”, highlight the existent organisational knowledge and its management practices as influencing the technology integration with processes and workers. In terms of worker skills, a demand for specific soft skills, pertinent to the modular consortium context (i.e. innovative creativity, communication, flexibility), is identified influencing the efficiency of technology integration and worker adaptation. Practical implications The results of this study provide recommendations for managers/practitioners implementing I4.0 in modular consortium business models, to establish better strategic plans. Originality/value I4.0 implementation and its impact on organisations and employees in different industrial contexts remain an important research gap. This paper explores this issue in conjunction with complex modular consortium business models.