Consolidating Industry 4.0 Individual Skills: An Umbrella Review
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.24023/FutureJournal/2175-5825/2026.v18i1.928Keywords:
Competence Acquisition, Skill Development, Industry 4.0, Individual Skills, Systematic Literature ReviewAbstract
Purpose: This study aims to consolidate existing knowledge on the competencies required in the context of Industry 4.0 through an Umbrella Review—a systematic review of systematic reviews—identifying recurrent individual skills and offering clear definitions.
Originality/Value: While several studies address isolated competencies for Industry 4.0, this work brings an original contribution by mapping, grouping, and standardizing these competencies under a unified framework. It also highlights gaps in the literature and suggests future paths for empirical validation through practitioner insights and emerging areas such as Project Management.
Methods: A comprehensive search was conducted in two major scientific databases, Scopus and Web of Science, without date restriction. The selection included systematic reviews focused on competencies within the Industry 4.0 context. The competencies identified were consolidated and thematically categorized.
Results: The review identified a wide range of competencies—including Communication, Problem Solving, Flexibility, Leadership, Technical Knowledge, Coding, Data Analytics, among others. Although some competencies appeared more frequently than others, their relative importance could not be determined, as frequency may reflect ease of study rather than market relevance.
Conclusions: This study confirms a growing academic and corporate interest in professional competencies for Industry 4.0, and it proposes that future research compare the mapped competencies with real-world professional reports and gray literature to validate their applicability. Additionally, integrating perspectives from areas such as Project Management and Product Development could enhance understanding and practical implementation.
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