Manufacturing companies are facing the fourth industrial revolution, which concerns itself with the real-time data-based communication and connection between cyber-physical systems and people. To initiate a successful digital transformation, many organizations turn to Industry 4.0 maturity models for orientation and advice. This paper aims to enable companies to find the model that suits them best. Therefore, several existing models are introduced and two of them, a quick-assessment model (CCMS) and a more extensive approach (Industry 4.0 Maturity Index), are described in detail. These two complementing models are combined into a new resource-efficient approach to assessing Industry 4.0 maturity.

Witnessing the unprecedented scale and speed of industry transformation due to digitization in general and the emergence of smart solutions in all aspects of manufacturing in particular, it is well justified to deal with the question of what production of the future will look like. How intelligent will it be when the hard challenges and disruptive effects of the changes will be overcome, and what are the chances to meet the critical requirements of collaboration and cooperation, flexibility and competitiveness? What are the technological and management tools to avoid being stuck in the so-called pilot purgatory? These issues are addressed in an international survey based on a questionnaire specifically tailored to conclude to viable options and recommendations for industrial companies. The results that are mostly in conformity with those published in the literature show that there is yet a lot to do to facilitate a definite turn in the mindset of the actors and to make them realize the relevance of simultaneous and continuous cultural and technological development.

Global economy increasingly responds to trends of industrial digitization and start to develop their own digitalization strategies e.i. through application of Industry 4.0 concepts. Thereby, initiatives and developments are often carried out on a company-, industry- or country-level, which can result in a lack of international co-operation and utilization of synergy-effects. To analyse the Industry 4.0 development status on a macro level and to enhance transnational developments, in the first part of this study we introduce the national Industry 4.0 platforms of three EU member states – the frontrunner Germany, the solidly rising Austria and Hungary that is in the process of catching up. Our analysis are carried out in four dimensions: economic background, country-specific Industry 4.0 interpretation, and local platforms as well as initiatives. To analyse the actual Industry 4.0 development status of industrial enterprises and of development platforms, existing Industry 4.0 maturity models form all three countries are presented and compared. Our analysis helped to capture the different phases of digitization and Industry 4.0 in Germany, Austria and Hungary in regard to defined goals and strategies and further of resulting problems with respect to Industry 4.0. Building on our comparison-studies and captured problems, decision makers should be enabled to carry out transnational Industry 4.0 projects and initiatives more effectively.