Planejamento de pré-projetos de centros tecnológicos: proposição do método FRONTI4.0 – front-end planning for industry 4.0 projects

Abstract

The advancement of advanced industrial automation technologies has played a central role in transforming production systems, especially in the manufacturing sector. These technologies comprise a set of solutions frequently associated with Industry 4.0 and Industry 5.0, including collaborative robots, autonomous mobile robots, big data platforms, smart sensors, and connected industrial automation systems. However, barriers such as the perception of high costs, uncertainties regarding return on investment, and organizational resistance to change still hinder the adoption of these Advanced Industrial Technologies (AIT). To overcome these challenges and expand the dissemination of AIT, companies that provide these technologies have developed structured initiatives aimed at accelerating technological adoption, among which Technology Centers (TCs) stand out—environments dedicated to demonstration, proof-of-concept execution, and validation of solutions applied to industrial automation. Given this context, this thesis seeks to answer the following question: How can companies that provide advanced industrial technologies be prepared to plan preliminary projects for Technology Centers aimed at demonstrating and disseminating these solutions? The objective is to propose a method to prepare AIT-providing companies in the planning of TC preliminary projects focused on the demonstration and dissemination of these technologies, fostering their adoption. This applied research, conducted using the Design Science Research method, was developed through multiple interconnected studies. As a result, an artifact in the form of the Front-End Planning for Industry 4.0 Projects (FRONTI4.0) method was developed to support the structured planning of small-scale preliminary projects, linking AIT to the persuasion attributes of the Diffusion of Innovation Theory The theoretical contributions of the thesis stem from the four studies conducted. Study 1 identified and validated barriers to AIT adoption in TC demonstrations, showing that planning such demonstrations can mitigate them. Study 2 presented a practical model for small-scale projects, reinforcing the importance of front-end planning (FEP) as a tool for strategic alignment. Study 3 articulated the persuasion constructs of the Diffusion of Innovation Theory with AIT demonstration processes, highlighting their role in mitigating barriers and the influence of project leaders’ profiles. Study 4 adapted FEP to small-scale projects and integrated the Diffusion of Innovation Theory into project planning focused on AIT, broadening its applicability for managers with varying levels of experience. This thesis is aligned with the Research Line on Innovation in Project Management of the Graduate Program in Administration – Project Management (PPGP) at UNINOVE.