Business Productivity and the Adoption of Lean and Industry 4.0 Tools: A Regional Study

Abstract

This study investigates the relationship between the adoption levels of Lean and Industry 4.0 (I4.0) tools and business productivity among 140 industrial companies in the Central Region of Portugal. Lean and I4.0 adoption indices were constructed and categorized into tertiles. Productivity data were retrieved from the SABI database. Statistical analysis using non-parametric methods revealed a marginally significant association between Lean tool adoption and productivity (Kruskal-Wallis H(2) = 5.30, p = 0.071), indicating a positive trend. In contrast, a statistically significant relationship was found for Industry 4.0 adoption (H(2) = 8.39, p = 0.015, Dunn’s p = 0.039), with companies with low adoption levels underperforming those with medium and high levels. No significant productivity differences were observed by firm size (p = 0.154). These findings highlight the relevance of Lean and I4.0 tools as productivity drivers, regardless of company size, and underscore the importance of promoting structured digital and operational transformation strategies in low digital maturity regions.

Keywords

lean tools / industry 4.0 tools / business productivity / regional study / Portugal

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