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Beyond “Industry 4.0": B2B factory networks as an alternative path towards the digital transformation of manufacturing and work

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  • Florian BUTOLLO
  • Lea SCHNEIDEMESSER

Abstract

This article uses theoretical and empirical evidence of variations in digitalized manufacturing to revisit Piore and Sabel's 1984 work on flexible specialization and to criticize the inherent one‐sidedness of the Industry 4.0 discourse. This is juxtaposed with empirical findings on platform‐mediated business‐to‐business factory networks, in which flexibility is facilitated by the digital interconnection of a far‐flung network of small‐scale manufacturers rather than by sophisticated production technology. The effects on work are equivocal; they entail the potential for a craft‐like and skill‐intensive paradigm of small‐scale manufacturing that can upgrade work, but also for a race to the bottom in price‐sensitive industries.

Suggested Citation

  • Florian BUTOLLO & Lea SCHNEIDEMESSER, 2021. "Beyond “Industry 4.0": B2B factory networks as an alternative path towards the digital transformation of manufacturing and work," International Labour Review, International Labour Organization, vol. 160(4), pages 537-552, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:bla:intlab:v:160:y:2021:i:4:p:537-552
    DOI: 10.1111/ilr.12211
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Pfeiffer, Sabine & Huchler, Norbert, 2018. "Industrie 4.0 konkret – vom Leitbild zur Praxis ?," WSI-Mitteilungen, Nomos Verlagsgesellschaft mbH & Co. KG, vol. 71(3), pages 167-173.
    2. Stacey Frederick & Gary Gereffi, 2011. "Upgrading and restructuring in the global apparel value chain: why China and Asia are outperforming Mexico and Central America," International Journal of Technological Learning, Innovation and Development, Inderscience Enterprises Ltd, vol. 4(1/2/3), pages 67-95.
    3. Hartmut Hirsch-Kreinsen, 2016. "Digitization of industrial work: development paths and prospects [Digitalisierung industrieller Arbeit: Entwicklungspfade und Perspektiven]," Journal for Labour Market Research, Springer;Institute for Employment Research/ Institut für Arbeitsmarkt- und Berufsforschung (IAB), vol. 49(1), pages 1-14, July.
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    Cited by:

    1. Butollo, Florian & Schneidemesser, Lea, 2022. "Who runs the show in digitalized manufacturing? Data, digital platforms and the restructuring of global value chains," EconStor Open Access Articles and Book Chapters, ZBW - Leibniz Information Centre for Economics, vol. 22(4), pages 595-614.
    2. Eleonora Santos, 2023. "Tech-driven transformation: Investigating digitalization dynamics across varying firm sizes," Journal of Information Economics, Anser Press, vol. 1(3), pages 1-12, September.
    3. Krzywdzinski, Martin & Butollo, Florian, 2022. "Combining Experiential Knowledge and Artificial Intelligence. The Digital Transformation of a Traditional Machine-Building Company," management revue - Socio-Economic Studies, Nomos Verlagsgesellschaft mbH & Co. KG, vol. 33(2), pages 161-184.
    4. Butollo, Florian & Gereffi, Gary & Yang, Chun & Krzywdzinski, Martin, 2022. "Digital transformation and value chains: Introduction," EconStor Open Access Articles and Book Chapters, ZBW - Leibniz Information Centre for Economics, vol. 22(4), pages 585-594.
    5. Krzywdzinski, Martin & Butollo, Florian, 2022. "Combining Experiential Knowledge and Artificial Intelligence. The Digital Transformation of a Traditional Machine-Building Company," EconStor Open Access Articles and Book Chapters, ZBW - Leibniz Information Centre for Economics, vol. 33(2), pages 161-184.

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