applied sciences Review Six-Gear Roadmap towards the Smart Factory Amr T. Sufian 1,*, Badr M. Abdullah 1 , Muhammad Ateeq 1 , Roderick Wah 2 and David Clements 2 1 Faculty of Engineering and Technology, Liverpool John Moores University, Liverpool L3 3AF, UK;
[email protected] (B.M.A.);
[email protected] (M.A.) 2 Beverston Engineering Ltd., Prescot L34 9AB, UK;
[email protected] (R.W.);
[email protected] (D.C.) * Correspondence: a.t.sufi
[email protected] Featured Application: This work is beneficial to bridge the gap between advanced technologies and their applications in the manufacturing industry, especially for SMEs. Abstract: The fourth industrial revolution is the transformation of industrial manufacturing into smart manufacturing. The advancement of digital technologies that make the trend Industry 4.0 are considered as the transforming force that will enable this transformation. However, Industry 4.0 digital technologies need to be connected, integrated and used effectively to create value and to provide insightful information for data driven manufacturing. Smart manufacturing is a journey and requires a roadmap to guide manufacturing organizations for its adoption. The objective of this paper is to review different methodologies and strategies for smart manufacturing implementation to propose a simple and a holistic roadmap that will support the transition into smart factories and achieve resilience, flexibility and sustainability. A comprehensive review of academic and industrial literature was preformed based on multiple stage approach and chosen criteria to establish existing knowledge in the field and to evaluate latest trends and ideas of Industry 4.0 and smart manufacturing technologies, techniques and applications in the manufacturing industry.