Systems Engineering for Industry 4.0 Technologies

Dear Colleagues,

The digital transformation of manufacturing and construction through Industry 4.0 technologies represents not only a technological shift but also a profound socio-technical transition that reshapes work practices, skill requirements and human–machine relationships. As cyber–physical systems, digital twins, autonomous robotics and intelligent automation become integral to modern industrial operations, there is a critical need for holistic systems engineering frameworks that address both technical complexity and human-centered design principles.

This Special Issue aims to bring together interdisciplinary research that addresses systems engineering challenges in deploying Industry 4.0 technologies while considering workforce adaptation, organizational change and societal impacts. We seek contributions that explore not only technical integration but also the human factors, skill evolution, knowledge transfer mechanisms and socio-economic implications of digital transformation in industrial contexts.

Topics of interest include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Systems engineering methodologies for cyber–physical systems;
• Digital twin development and integration;
• Autonomous and collaborative robotics;
• Human–robot collaboration and workplace ergonomics;
• Skill digitization and knowledge transfer frameworks;
• Workforce training and adaptation strategies;
• Teleoperation systems and human-in-the-loop control;
• Organizational readiness for Industry 4.0 adoption;
• Multi-modal sensor fusion and data integration;
• Safety-critical systems and human factor engineering;
• Ethical considerations in autonomous industrial systems;
• Learning-based control and adaptive systems;
• Socio-technical system design for manufacturing and construction;
• Real-world case studies examining both technical and social dimensions of Industry 4.0 implementation.

We welcome original research articles, comprehensive reviews, and interdisciplinary case studies that advance systems engineering through technical excellence and social awareness.

Dr. Sunny Katyara
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 250 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for assessment.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Systems is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2400 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.