Industry 4.0 (I4.0) enables Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) to enhance their competitiveness through advanced Information and Communication Technologies (ICT). This study addresses the lack of tailored I4.0 maturity models (MMs) for SMEs in developing countries by proposing a customized framework for Cairo’s manufacturing sector. A two-round Delphi survey involving 19 industrial experts was conducted. The first round assessed existing ICT levels, IT systems, stakeholder involvement, and training needs, while the second round identified the most relevant dimensions for a tailored model. Findings show moderate ICT integration, widespread ERP use, and partial digital transformation among Cairo SMEs. However, the adoption of advanced I4.0 technologies remains limited. The proposed MM incorporates ten validated dimensions like organizational strategy, smart operations, culture and leadership, and organizes them into five developmental stages. This framework provides a structured, context roadmap to support digital transformation among manufacturing SMEs in Cairo and similar developing contexts.
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Elhusseiny et al. (2025) studied this question.
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