Industry 4.0 and Its Impact on Innovation Projects in Steelworks

It is clear that the dynamic demands of steel consumers, combined with fierce competition in the market, are increasingly forcing steel mills to improve their ability to adapt to such changes in scenarios, as it is a global phenomenon. The steel industry is of undeniable importance, not only because its products are widely used, but also because it is an energy-intensive industry and one of the main sources of greenhouse gases. Although Industry 4.0 in particular entails a radical change in the way factories currently operate, we have seen innovative outcomes occur in both processes and products. The former are usually protected by trade secrets or know-how, while the latter is eventually patented. An important point to consider is that the Brazilian steel industry has a larger share of foreign investment. In conclusion, it was found that further research on this topic is needed to better understand the process of business model innovation and the archetypes resulting from the adoption of Industry 4.0 in the Brazilian steel world.