Laying the Foundation of Industry 4.0 by Forward-Looking Planning of Innovation

Abstract

Haptic 3-D additive coating technology is laying the foundation for further development of Huafeng’s company into Industry 4.0 business environments. The current business model of the sports footwear industry is explained. This business model needs to be changed to a more non-linear cooperation network to materialize benefits of Industry 4.0. Successful Industry 4.0 needs not only investment into modern digital technology. It also needs suitable non-linear business models, a new mind set how we cooperate and how we handle transparency in the supply network, and finally skillful people who can integrate into that new environment. Industry 4.0 will create organizational structures comparable to superorganisms.