Mapping knowledge management in Industry 4.0 era: a TCCM-guided bibliometric and thematic analysis

This study systematically maps and synthesizes the evolving literature on knowledge management (KM) in the context of Industry 4.0 (I4.0) by integrating bibliometric analysis with the Theory-Context-Characteristics-Method (TCCM) framework. Drawing on 93 peer-reviewed articles from Scopus (2018–2025), the study employs Biblioshiny and VOSviewer to analyze publication trends, intellectual structures, and thematic development, complemented by a structured TCCM-based synthesis. The findings reveal arapidly growing yet uneven field, dominated by perspectives on dynamic capabilities and absorptive capacity, with astrong concentration in manufacturing contexts and developed economies. Methodologically, the literature relies heavily on cross-sectional survey designs, while computational and longitudinal approaches remain limited. Thematic analysis identifies digital transformation, knowledge sharing, and organizational learning as core areas, whereas artificial intelligence, knowledge transfer, and governance remain underdeveloped. To address these gaps, the study proposes the Dynamic Knowledge Management Capability (DKMC) framework, conceptualizing KM as a technology-mediated capability shaped by human-AI interaction, real-time knowledge flows, and governance mechanisms. The study provides a transparent, theory-integrated synthesis and contributes to KM scholarship by incorporating AI-mediated knowledge processes and governance considerations, offering directions for future research and practice in digitally intensive environments.