Exploring the Context of Industry 4.0, Continuous Processes, and Mining Industry: A Systematic Literature Review and Research Directions

Industry 4.0 offers significant potential to enhance efficiency and competitiveness in continuous processes, such as those in the mining sector. However, the implementation of its principles in continuous production sectors presents specific challenges, mainly due to the unique characteristics of the processed materials and the demand for continuous production. This study conducted a systematic literature review to investigate the application of Industry 4.0 in continuous processes within the mining sector, focusing on the relationship between Industry 4.0 design principles and their integration into these processes. The objectives were to: (i) identify and describe existing evidence on the integration of Industry 4.0 in continuous processes in mining, (ii) synthesize the opportunities Industry 4.0 offers for continuous production processes in mining, and (iii) foster discussions on future research directions. The results highlighted critical gaps in the application of Industry 4.0 principles in the mining industry and proposed a comprehensive theoretical framework that maps opportunities and provides practical implementation guidelines. This framework emphasizes the need for customized approaches to improve operational efficiency, reduce costs, and enhance global competitiveness. The conclusions offer a foundation for future empirical research and promote innovation and digital transformation in the mining industry, focusing on adapting optimization and process control techniques for continuous processes.