ASSESSMENT AND PRIORITIZATION OF INDUSTRY 4.0 ADOPTION BARRIERS IN RAJASTHAN’S DAIRY AND HORTICULTURE SUPPLY CHAINS USING MULTI-CRITERIA DECISION APPROACH
Ganesh Kumar Kantak, Mukesh Kumar
Department of Mechanical Engineering, Vivekananda Global University, Jaipur, India
Abstract: The dairy and horticulture industries constitute a significant portion of the Agri-based economy in Rajasthan, but the supply chains in these industries are not digitalized. Though Industry 4.0 technologies have a potential to improve traceability, minimize losses and make decisions smarter, penetration into these sectors is low and disproportionate. This paper discussed the extent to which these supply chains are ready to undergo digital transformation and the top barriers that have been stopping the process. A survey was done among 100 stakeholders who were comprised of farmers, members of cooperatives, processing units, logistics operators and supply chain managers. An overall preparedness framework was created that included three overall enablers, nine assessment criteria, and fifty four attributes in detail that covered the dimensions of technology, organization, humans, market, and sustainability. As stakeholder ratings are subjective and inaccurate, the degree of each barrier was assessed through a fuzzy multi-criteria approach to decision making. This analysis uncovered thirty one attributes as significant barriers to Industry 4.0 adoption. Among the critical technological gaps, there were the lack of digital traceability systems, sub-optimization of smart sensors, sub-optimization of cold-chain monitoring, and predictive maintenance in processing facilities. Human and organizational issues were also important, including the lack of digital literacy, change resistance, slow-paced technology-related decision-making, and the lack of professional technical staff. Market and policy considerations were also identified to be an issue such as poor knowledge of government support programmes, middlemen price fixing and poor coordination between the supply chain players. The pressure of the environment especially heat stress and post-harvest spoilage only augmented the need of smart and data-driven systems. The findings provide a definite guideline to policymakers and stakeholders in the industry with the ambition of hastening the process of implementing Industry 4.0 in the perishable supply chains in Rajasthan.
Keywords: Industry 4.0 Readiness, Supply Chain Barriers, Dairy Industry Rajasthan, Horticulture Supply Chain
VOLUME 10 ISSUE 01 2026: 229 – 249