A Bibliometric Analysis of Industry 4.0 in Procurement Decision Making Using VOS Viewer and R Studio Bibliometrix

Abstract

Purpose:   This study aims to map and evaluate the emerging body of research on Industry 4.0 in procurement to clarify its intellectual structure, dominant themes, and future research directions.  

Design/methodology/approach: 66 documents were selected using Elsevier Scopus. Analysis was conducted using bibliometric and science mapping techniques implemented in R (Biblioshiny). This analysis examined publication trends, collaboration patterns, influential authors, and thematic structures within the field.

Findings:   The results highlight the publication trend and reveal that this research domain is growing rapidly but is fragmented, with limited contributions from countries, journals, and authors. Thematic and network analysis reveal a strong emphasis on technology adoption and performance outcomes, whereas views on procurement strategy, organization, and sustainability have yet to be deeply explored.

Originality:  This study provides a comprehensive bibliometric overview of Industry 4.0 in procurement research, a field that remains underexplored within the broader digital supply chain literature.

Implications:  This study helps not only in the expansion of the knowledge base on the research topic but also in understanding the evolution of the industry 4.0 and procurement, providing research support further in this area.