Enhancing safety and compliance in the Indian process industries: a real-time Delphi study on integrating Industry 4.0 technologies

Purpose In today's competitive world, there is a need to adopt the ever-growing technologies for improving the productivity of organizations by implementing the synergy of safety and modern digital technologies of Industry 4.0. This study examines the results of applying safety and regulatory tools across various processes in line with the principles of Industry 4.0. Design/methodology/approach Data were analyzed using expert's opinion through Real-Time Delphi method, and the best flute instrument was found through data analysis. Research emphasized Industry 4.0 and ability of advanced technology to influence safety and sustainability practices in risk-specific environments, which includes IoT, AI, advanced analytics, and CREA, etc. Findings It has increased the possibilities for real-time threat detection and streamlined every process. However, managing and interpreting the data generated by these automation processes requires skilled personnel and other resources, while data security and management have the potential to reduce the chances of breaches. Practical implications This digital transformation helps in improving the productivity and safety of the organizations along with the positive impacts on employees' behavior, change acceptance, and work complexity. Originality/value The study provides a roadmap for Industry 4.0 implementation in the process industries, focusing on employee development, incremental acquisition and implementation of technology and collaboration among stakeholders.