Foresight into Predictive Maintenance Integration: The Economic Role of Digitalization in Automotive Industry

This study investigates the economic and operational impacts of predictive maintenance integration in the context of digital transformation within the Slovak automotive industry. The purpose is to evaluate how the adoption of condition monitoring systems (CMS) and real-time data technologies contributes to enhancing production efficiency and financial performance, while supporting the strategic objectives of digital innovation at the enterprise level. The research employs a mixed- methods approach, combining quantitative and qualitative statistical analysis of secondary data obtained from the international ORBIS database. The dataset includes financial and operational indicators from selected Slovak automotive enterprises, analyzed across periods before and after the implementation of predictive maintenance solutions. These indicators function as proxies for digital maturity, operational resilience, and innovation performance. A historical and conceptual review of maintenance strategies and digitalization trends is also provided to contextualize the analysis. The findings reveal that predictive maintenance systems, supported by advanced analytics and user-friendly CMS interfaces, lead to measurable improvements in production continuity, reduced failure rates, and enhanced return on assets. The integration of digital tools enables more timely interventions and decentralized decision-making by maintenance staff, fostering a shift from reactive to proactive operational models. These outcomes demonstrate the broader strategic potential of predictive maintenance as a component of digitally enabled innovation systems. The originality of this study lies in its focus on a regionally specific and sectoral application of Industry 4.0 technologies, contributing empirical evidence on how predictive maintenance influences firm-level economic performance. It offers valuable insights for both policymakers and industrial stakeholders regarding the alignment of technological foresight, digital investment strategies, and science, technology, and innovation (STI) policy in manufacturing- intensive economies.