Witold Torbacki

As industrial companies transition from the Industry 4.0 stage to the more human-centric and resilient Industry 5.0 paradigm, there is a growing need for structured assessment tools to prioritize modern technologies. This paper presents an integrated multi-criteria decision analysis (MCDA) approach to support the strategic assessment of technologies from three complementary perspectives: economic, organizational, and technological. The proposed model encompasses six key transformation areas and 22 technologies representing both the Industry 4.0 and 5.0 paradigms. A hybrid approach combining the DEMATEL (Decision-Making Trial and Evaluation Laboratory) and PROMETHEE II (Preference Ranking Organization Method for Enrichment Evaluation) methods is used to identify cause–effect relationships between the transformation areas and to construct technology rankings in each of the assessed perspectives. The results indicate that technologies such as the Internet of Things (IoT), cybersecurity, and supporting IT systems play a central role in the transition process. Among the Industry 5.0 technologies, hyper-personalized manufacturing, smart grids and new materials stand out. Moreover, the economic perspective emerges as the dominant assessment dimension for most technologies. The proposed analytical framework offers both theoretical input and practical decision-making support for companies planning their transformation towards Industry 5.0, enabling a stronger alignment between implemented technologies and long-term strategic goals.

Industrial enterprises and their supply chain partners are increasingly seeking methods to optimise production and logistics processes while pursuing sustainable development goals. The complexity and high risk associated with implementing Industry 4.0 technologies calls for structured decision-making support. This study presents a novel multi-criteria evaluation framework that integrates technological, organisational, and sustainability dimensions to support strategic transformation efforts. The proposed model comprises four subspheres of manufacturing, four subspheres of supply chain and logistics, twenty-three emerging technologies, and four sustainability perspectives adapted to industrial contexts. A hybrid MCDM approach combining DEMATEL and PROMETHEE II is applied to identify causal relationships, prioritise technologies, and rank sustainability priorities across different dimensions. The methodology enables companies to determine which technologies should be implemented first and how these relate to broader sustainability objectives. The results provide a structured roadmap for decision-makers, highlighting five key strategic areas for the sustainable implementation of Industry 4.0. In addition to its managerial relevance, the proposed model offers scientific novelty by bridging previously siloed research areas and demonstrating a data-driven approach to transformation planning.

The management staff of software companies are constantly looking for ways to build market advantage and win business strategies. Introducing changes in companies is a costly process and carries the risk of poor allocation of resources. This article provides decision-makers with a tool that increases the chance of making the right business decisions and can also be a guide in the transformation of business models. The scientific aim of this article was to simultaneously cover three areas, innovation, business models, and sustainable development, to develop a scheme enabling the construction of rankings of the elements of these areas in a version dedicated to software producing companies. Rankings, which are built using the hybrid Multiple-Criteria Decision-Making (MCDM) method, indicate to decision-makers the need for building strategic development plans, which aspects are the most important, and what the order of possible implementations should be. Based on a multi-criteria analysis, it was found that (i) in terms of innovation, companies should focus their attention first on implementing product, process, and technological innovations; (ii) within innovative business models, attempts should be made to produce IT systems using virtualization and dockerization, as well as efforts should be made to closely bind customers with the offered products and services and offer temporary rental of IT systems instead of classic licenses; and (iii) in the context of the classic three levels of sustainable development, companies should focus primarily on economic and financial issues.

This article presents the idea of modelling and supporting the decision-making process in the field of development directions of a sustainable transport system in a metropolitan area. The global COVID-19 pandemic is causing changes in the perception of the public transport system by passengers. Users’ concerns for their own safety may lead to a shift away from public transport. Policy makers are advised to pay attention to these new phenomena that are hindering the development of sustainable transport in urban areas. Thus, many projects for the development of sustainable urban transport mobility, prepared before COVID-19, require re-analysis and adaptation to the decision-making processes of choosing the preferred means of transport by citizens. The scientific aim of this article was to develop a mathematical model based on the hybrid DEMATEL-PROMETHEE II method, supporting city decision-makers in the decision-making process regarding the selection of appropriate measures supporting the development of sustainable transport. The issues covered in the article include economic, informational and legal aspects, including electromobility, the principles of a low-emission society, and sustainable collective transport. The model was prepared for the needs of the Szczecin Metropolitan Area, where the construction of the Szczecin Metropolitan Railway, delayed by COVID-19, is underway and is to be the main axis of the public transport system. Finally, the article provides a ranking of groups of measures, dimensions and criteria that should be taken into account by decision-makers and planners in the modified plans for the sustainable development of metropolitan transport systems in the period after COVID-19.

IT technologies related to Industry 4.0 facilitate the implementation of the framework for sustainable manufacturing. At the same time, Industry 4.0 integrates IT processes and systems of production companies with IT solutions of cooperating companies that support a complete manufactured product life cycle. Thus, the implementation of sustainable manufacturing implies a rapid increase in interfaces between IT solutions of cooperating companies. This, in turn, raises concerns about security among manufacturing company executives. The lack of a recognized methodology supporting the decision-making process of choosing the right methods and means of cybersecurity is, in effect, a significant barrier to the development of sustainable manufacturing. As a result, the propagation of technologies in Industry 4.0 and the implementation of the sustainable manufacturing framework in companies are slowing down significantly. The main novelty of this article, addressing the above deficiencies, is the creation, using the combined DEMATEL and ANP (DANP) and PROMETHEE II methods, of a ranking of the proposed three groups of measures, seven dimensions and twenty criteria to be implemented in companies to ensure cybersecurity in Industry 4.0 and facilitate the implementation of the sustainable production principles. The contribution of Industry 4.0 components and the proposed cybersecurity scheme to achieve the Sustainable Development goals, reducing the carbon footprint of companies and introducing circular economy elements was also indicated. Using DANP and PROMETHEE II, it can be concluded that: (i) the major criterion of cybersecurity in companies is validation and maintaining electronic signatures and seals; (ii) the most crucial area of cybersecurity is network security; (iii) the most significant group of measures in this regard are technological measures.

The article presents the issues covering the modern methods of securing data in both manufacturing processes and companies within the concept of Industry 4.0. In this approach, research problems arose how to implement the right method of secure data sending in sales, manufacturing and distribution processes. It is a very important issue for manufacturing companies as well as how the process of sending electronic data should be safely conducted. While current researches concentrated on the method of blockchain secured electronic documents, there is almost no research concentrating on blockchain integrator selection criteria. The main purpose of this paper is to provide a decision assistance model based on multiple criteria decision analysis technique. Also, mutual relationships between parameters for the assessment of integrators are established. In the article, a Multi-Criteria Decision Analysis (MCDA) was used to assess these characteristics. The Decision Making Trial and Evaluation Laboratory (DEMATEL) technique was chosen for this assessment.

The article presents the issues covering the modern ERP cloud systems for manufacturing companies within the currently developed concept Industry 4.0. In this approach, research problems arose as to which parameters and characteristics of ERP cloud systems are the most important from the point of view of manufacturing companies as well as how the process of choosing an ERP system should be conducted. In addition, mutual relationships between these parameters were established. In the article, a multi-criteria decision analysis (MCDA) was used to assess these characteristics. The Decision making trial and evaluation laboratory (DEMATEL) technique was chosen for this assessment. The article can be useful to people interested in modern IT solutions in the production industries.

Urban areas are centres of business and innovation. Freight transport is indispensable for the proper functioning of any modern urban society. Urban areas cannot function without an appropriate freight transport system, due to the need to replenish stocks of food and other goods in retail shops. The complexity of the decisions concerning implementation of measures to improve the movement of goods in the city requires tools designed to support this process. In this context, a research gap and a research problem occur—how to obtain a reliable set of factors for development of sustainable urban freight transport (UFT). The purpose of this article is to introduce the possibility of applying the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) as well as the Decision Making Trial and Evaluation Laboratory Method (DEMATEL) in choosing a set of measures and in analysing the field of distribution logistics, which will help to solve delivery problems and streamline cargo flow in Szczecin, in the context of sustainable development. This paper presents the findings of a survey in which experts evaluate the main coefficients for sustainable freight transport in the city area. Using both AHP and DEMATEL methods, we have concluded that: (i) all coefficients from administrative, financial, technical and promotional measures are highly interconnected; (ii) strategy of freight transport development should take into consideration how these coefficients influence each other; (iii) P2—eco-driving trainings, T4—alternative delivery systems and P1—promotional campaigns for sustainable transport are the most important criteria and should be priorities for investments; (iv) A1—implementation of loading/unloading and transit restrictions—highly influences other coefficients; (v) T2—intelligent route guidance in freight transport is greatly influenced by them.

The article introduces issues concerning the implementation of key performance indicators (KPIs) dedicated to the TSL (Transport-Shipping-Logistics) branch. The KPIs are used in different modules of the ERP (Enterprise resource planning) information systems, which support strategic decision making. Selected indicators have been used to create four perspectives of Balanced Scorecard in accordance with Balanced Scorecard methodology. Using the multi-factor method of DEMATEL (Decision Making Trial and Evaluation Laboratory) analysis, the evaluation of indicators and Balanced Scorecard's perspectives has been performed. This article can be useful to persons interested in the implementation of modern solutions in ERP applications dedicated to the TSL branch. Presented article can be useful to persons from upper management of TSL companies who are interested in modern methods of supporting strategic management and for IT system developers who are considering expanding modules of ERP software solutions dedicated to TSL industry which support strategic management and decision making.