A Bibliometric and Visualization Analysis of Industry 4.0 Technologies Adoption in the Traditional Garment Manufacturing Sector

HRMARS - Purpose: Industry 4.0 technologies, originating in Germany in 2011, have expanded rapidly across global manufacturing. However, high investment costs, rapid technological evolution, and a shortage of skilled professionals have constrained their adoption in many traditional sectors. The garment manufacturing industry, dominated by small and medium-sized enterprises and characterized by low automation, outdated equipment, and manual operations (Huynh, 2024), faces particular challenges. This study examines the current research status of Industry 4.0 technologies adoption in the traditional garment manufacturing sector and identifies future development directions. Design/methodology/approach: A systematic literature review combined with bibliometric analysis was employed. Relevant studies were retrieved from the Web of Science (WOS) database using defined keywords, and visualization was performed with VOSviewer 1.6.19 to map research hotspots and trends. Findings: The study provides a comprehensive overview of Industry 4.0 technologies adoption in garment manufacturing, highlighting current research focuses and emerging directions for future exploration. Research limitations/implications: Only five core Industry 4.0 technologies?Internet of Things, Cloud Computing, Big Data Analytics, Artificial Intelligence, and Smart Manufacturing?were analyzed. Future research could broaden this scope to capture a more holistic technological landscape. Practical implications: Industry 4.0 technologies adoption can transform traditional garment production, enhance competitiveness, and support sustainable development. Originality/value: By integrating five foundational Industry 4.0 technologies into a unified analytical framework, this study establishes a theoretical foundation for future empirical research on digital transformation within traditional garment manufacturing.