Industry 4.0 and Sustainable Development in the Automotive Sector

Abstract

The central objective of the present study was to verify the role of sustainability in the development of the concept of Industry 4.0 in the automotive sector. For this purpose, a research of the descriptive type of qualitative nature was promoted, with the participation of executives who work in the automotive sector. During this study, it was sought to understand and relate the concept and contemporary practices related to Industry 4.0 and the dimensions of the sustainable development construct. The results point broader analyzes of the future of the automotive industry. Despite the large investments to be made and the slow and gradual operational process, it is already recognized that developed countries will have a better chance of adapting to the new realities. On the other hand, the real implementation of Industry 4.0 in the developing countries will take a longer period of time, justifying the improvement of productive capacity and of adaptation and the quality of the workforce. This study proved the reality that the concepts of sustainable development are very present in the industry 4.0, whose automotive sector demands investments, both for the better qualification of its employees, as well as to ensure the sustainability their products exert towards the environment.