International Scientific Journals
of Scientific Technical Union of Mechanical Engineering "Industry 4.0"

The digital transformation of healthcare systems is significantly changing the way healthcare organizations operate and healthcare is delivered. The rapid development of digital technologies has increased the demand for digital competencies among healthcare professionals and managers. These competencies are essential for the effective implementation and use of digital technologies in healthcare. The aim of this study is to identify and analyze the key digital competencies required in healthcare organizations in the context of digital transformation. A systematic literature review was conducted using the PRISMA methodology to identify relevant scientific publications focused on digital competencies in healthcare. The analysis focuses on the digital skills and competencies of healthcare professionals and managers. The findings highlight the importance of digital literacy, data management, information security, and continuous professional development. The study contributes to an understanding of how healthcare organizations can better prepare their employees for digital transformation.

Digital twin technology has rapidly evolved into a foundational pillar of modern engineering practice. By creating high-fidelity, data-driven virtual replicas of physical systems, digital twins enable continuous monitoring, predictive analytics, and advanced optimization throughout the lifecycle of assets. This extended article expands on the conceptual, technical, and practical dimensions of digital twins, providing deeper insights into architectures, data frameworks, integration strategies, real-world case studies, economic implications, and emerging research directions.

The study analyzes the impact of growing global economic instability on the innovation activity of Belarusian industry. Despite external pressures, the share of enterprises implementing innovations increased from 20.4% in 2016 to 36% in 2024, with especially rapid growth in the Brest region. However, innovation expenditures remain highly volatile, sharply declining in 2022 and recovering only by 2024, particularly in import‑dependent regions. Significant regional disparities persist in innovation performance: the Vitebsk region exceeds 30% of innovative products, while the Grodno region remains at 7%. Innovation services remain low nationwide but show rapid growth in individual regions. The findings indicate that innovation development in Belarus is progressing yet remains vulnerable to currency, logistics, technological, and sanctions-related risks, underscoring the need for integrated risk management models tailored to regional conditions.

In plastic injection and plastic welding processes, the inability to accurately classify machine downtimes, the lack of visibility regarding performance discrepancies between shifts, and the reliance on largely manual methods for operator tracking hinder the sustainable improvement of Overall Equipment Effectiveness (OEE). Furthermore, the retention of pro- duction and energy consumption data in isolated systems complicates integrated performance evaluation.
In this study, the HBS MES system, developed by the in-house engineering team of Pleksan A.S. and fully integrated with HBS ERP, is examined within the scope of a field application aimed at real-time production tracking, performance analysis, and energy consumption reporting in plastic injection lines. As of 2025, HBS MES is actively used in its V1 version across three different plastic manufacturing enterprises; this paper exemplifies a facility predominantly focused on plastic injection.
The paper presents the system architecture, data collection logic, modeling of production and downtime events, the approach to calculating OEE and its sub-metrics, and user interface components in detail. As a result of the implementation in the studied facility, an improvement of approximately 25% in production quantities was reported, particularly during night shifts, and the mechanisms underlying this improvement are discussed. The findings demonstrate that MES solutions integrated with machine-embedded data collection modules can provide measurable productivity gains even in small and medium-sized enterprises.

The present study examines autonomous factories as a contemporary manifestation of digital transformation in the manufacturing sector. Unlike traditional automation, autonomous systems demonstrate cognitive capabilities through the integration of artificial intelligence, machine learning, and cyber-physical systems. The technological architecture includes the Internet of Things, digital twins, advanced robotics, and blockchain technologies, functioning in synergy. The implementation process follows a phased evolution through five maturity levels. The analysis reveals multiple challenges – technical, financial, ethical, and regulatory. Empirical data shows that the primary difficulties stem from psychological resistance and organizational adaptation, rather than from technological limitations. The research examines the economic effects, changes in employment structure, and the social dimensions of the transformation. In conclusion, the necessity for a balanced approach is emphasized, integrating technological capabilities with human needs in the context of Industry 5.0 philosophy.

The report examines the current state and challenges of vocational education in the transport and energy sectors. It analyzes the need for modernization through project-based learning, digital transformation, and team-based learning, which have been proven to enhance outcomes and prepare learners for Industry 4.0. The report presents international practices in dual education and effective models of partnerships between education and industry. Finally, it outlines the main barriers—institutional, resource-related, social, and those stemming from resistance to change—that hinder the widespread implementation of innovative approaches.

Industry 4.0 has established itself as an era of digital transformation, automation, and intelligent technologies that integrate machine systems, data, and processes into a unified architecture. Its core strength is rooted in efficiency, speed, and systematic optimization. However, the pursuit of maximum productivity often displaces anthropometric factors – ethical values, sustainable development, and the social dimensions of technological progress. This is precisely where the philosophy of Industry 5.0 is positioned, building upon the previous paradigm by placing humans at the center of transformational processes. If Industry 4.0 represents the era of machine dominance, then Industry 5.0 introduces the era of symbiosis between human and technological capabilities. The change goes beyond theoretical frameworks and generates measurable results. When people are perceived as partners rather than victims of technological progress, innovations become bolder, products more personalized, and business models more sustainable. Industry 5.0 does not reject digitalization but humanizes it by integrating values such as sustainable development, social responsibility, and balance between technological innovation and human creativity.

The article provides an insight into the analysis of trends in contemporary HR in the era of Industry 4.0, with an emphasis on the role of artificial intelligence (AI) in managers’ decision-making processes. The study addresses the opportunities and threats associated with the implementation of AI within HR and its impact on organizational effectiveness and human resource management. Using secondary data analysis and literature synthesis, we offer a deeper insight into modern HR management approaches and discuss the potential risks associated with digital transformation. The aim of the study is to provide practical recommendations for managers on how to deal with the challenges of the current Industry 4.0 era.

This article provides a systematic literature review to explore the relationship between digital transformation and corporate culture, focusing on their impact on employees’ work-life balance and well-being. In today’s dynamically changing work environment, the rapid adaptation of businesses to digital technologies figures prominently in changing corporate practices. This transition to the digital era has a significant impact on employees’ personal and professional lives, which must also remain a key area of research interest. This review will focus on two key research areas: (1) the role of digital technologies and teleworking in shaping work-life balance, and (2) corporate culture in the context of digital transformation. Within the research findings, there is considerable current literature on how companies can use digital technologies to their advantage while shaping a strong corporate culture to improve work-life balance and employee well-being.

A theoretical analysis of Industry 4.0’s effects on human resources management (HRM) is provided in this article. It looks at the potential and difficulties presented by the digital revolution, emphasizing the necessity of Smart HR 4.0. Workforce planning, job design, hiring, and staff development in response to emerging technologies like AI and big data are some of the major issues that have been studied. The significance of Education 4.0 in educating the labor force for jobs of the future is also emphasized in the essay. It emphasizes the necessity of HRM methods that change to meet Industry 4.0’s changing demands.

Recent studies indicate that over 80% of organizations have initiated their digital transformation journey, yet only approximately 25% perceive tangible benefits from these endeavors. Delving into the reasons behind these perceptions, it becomes evident that digital transformation lacks practical implementation. This research treats digital transformation as a project, adhering to project management principles. It delineates a pragmatic approach to digital transformation project management, highlighting key considerations at each stage. Furthermore, insights from an interview with Huawei Türkiye’s R&D director, HR business partner leader, and payroll and personal affairs manager shed light on Software as a Service (SaaS) as a pivotal component of contemporary digitalization. SaaS is believed to expedite successful integration, positioning companies favorably against competitors in remarkably short durations.

Bulgaria is considerably lagging behind the general trends in the EU for the introduction of a digital society and it is therefore necessary to adopt specific measures and to focus efforts on overcoming the lagging behind. Creating the right conditions for the introduction of Industry 4.0 will support, on the one hand, the competitiveness of production and attracting investment in the economy and, on the other, will help to increase efficiency in optimal resource use. The aim of the study is to reveal the possibilities for digital transformation of the Bulgarian business and to give recommendations for process transformation, using adequate strategic tools. The results of the study show that investment and innovation in IT are a key factor in boosting productivity in the EU and it is expected that three quarters of the value of the digital economy will come from traditional sectors (industry), so it is crucial to support its digital transformation.