DEVELOPMENT OF AN EXPERT SYSTEM FOR INDUSTRY 4.0 IMPLEMENTATION

Abstract

Kazakhstan is a modern state that keeps pace with the times and initiates the implementation of digital technologies for the development of production. The implementation of Industry 4.0 technologies requires a special precise approach, which will affect the performance of manufacturers and customer satisfaction. The project is aimed to develop an expert system for the implementation of Industry 4.0. The stakeholders in the scope of the project are the production of small and medium-sized enterprises in Kazakhstan. To suggest relevant recommendations for enterprises, the expert system consists of a high-quality pool of recommendations, and an easy-to-understand maturity assessment model with an accurate algorithm. The importance of an expert system for enterprises is to address complexity with the assessment of maturity level and receive relevant recommendations to proceed on the path of digital transformation. The deliverables of the project consist of two parts; (1) a pool of recommendations for the implementation of Industry 4.0 and (2) an expert system that assesses the maturity level of companies and suggests recommendations for the next steps towards digitalization. The pool of recommendations was developed based on a literature review from various sources, as well as through interviews with Industry 4.0 experts. The expert system has two subparts. The first subpart is a developed algorithm for a more accurate assessment of the level of maturity. The second subpart includes a model and an algorithm that is displayed in the form of a survey on the developed website. In conclusion, the expert system assesses the level of maturity as well as provides a list of recommendations for enterprises. As the results of the expert system showed, in general, the level of maturity of Kazakhstani companies is low. Since the infrastructure of manufacturing enterprises is underdeveloped, there are also difficulties with the organization’s development strategy and personal employees' digital literacy. In addition, some enterprises doubt modernization effects on improvement of performance or reducing costs.