An exploratory study of human-robot collaboration’s potential to create sustainable enterprises in Durban.

Abstract

SMEs are encountering challenges transitioning into the fourth industrial revolution and ultimately adopting technology that will work with humans to ensure they engage in sustainable business practices. The challenges SMEs are battling with are the ability to deal with economic, environmental and social changes, responsibly and efficiently using natural resources and protecting the environment, providing high-quality products and services and meeting stakeholder needs. Therefore, this study will be of benefit in that it has explored how the use of collaborative robotics in the workstation and manufacturing floor will lead to sustainable production which will ultimately balance between the economic, environmental and social sustainability among Durban SMEs. The study adopted a qualitative approach using six in-depth telephonic and video interviews to gather insights about the human-robot collaboration’s potential to crate sustainable enterprises in Durban. Thematic analysis was used to analyse data. The study's findings indicated the obstacles that businesses are encountering as they migrate to Industry 4.0. Lack of resources, such as financial capital, machinery, and more information on Industry 4.0, are among these problems. Furthermore, the study revealed that the Covid 19 pandemic was a significant stumbling block for SMEs. The results revealed that adoption of collaborative robots by SMEs will create a sustainable environment which produces less waste and less depletion of nonrenewable resources, enable enterprises to make more profit while taking care of the wellbeing of the societies they operate in. The study concludes that the collaboration between humans and collaborative robots will solve sustainability challenges faced by Durban SMEs. Likewise, collaborative robots and humans will enable sustainable entrepreneurship to be geared towards the implementation of green strategies and techniques that are more efficient in the reduction of waste. The recommendations pointed that the government (SEDA) should raise awareness and educate entrepreneurs more about the fourth industrial revolution.