The role of industry 4.0 technologies in overcoming pandemic challenges for the manufacturing sector

Industry 4.0 aims to revolutionize the manufacturing sector to achieve sustainable and efficient production. The novel coronavirus pandemic has brought many challenges in different industries globally. Shortage in supply of raw material, changes in product demand, and factories closures due to general lockdown are all examples of such challenges. The adaption of Industry 4.0 technologies can address these challenges and prevent their recurrence in case of another pandemic outbreak in future. A prominent advantage of Industry 4.0 technologies is their capability of building resilient and flexible systems that are responsive to exceptional circumstances such as unpredictable market demand, supply chain interruptions, and manpower shortage which can be crucial at times of pandemics. This work focuses on discussing how different Industry 4.0 technologies such as Cyber Physical Systems, Additive Manufacturing, and Internet of Things can help the manufacturing sector overcome pandemics challenges. The role of Industry 4.0 technologies in raw material provenance identification and counterfeit prevention, collaboration and business continuity, agility and decentralization of manufacturing, crisis simulation, elimination of single point of failure risk, and other factors is discussed. Moreover, a self-assessment readiness model has been developed to help manufacturing firms determine their readiness level for implementing different Industry 4.0 technologies.