Research Publications
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This main community comprises five sub-communities, each representing the academic contribution made by SLIIT-affiliated personnel.
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Publication Open Access Integration of industry 4.0 technologies to overcome lean manufacturing barriers in Sri Lanka’s apparel sector(Emerald Publishing, 2026-02-09) Silva, N; Hettiarachchi, D. I; Perera, P; Perera, CPurpose – This study aims to examine how Industry 4.0 (I4.0) technologies can enable Lean Manufacturing (LM) practices in Sri Lanka’s apparel industry. Although LM has been widely adopted to improve efficiency and reduce waste, persistent barriers such as frequent product changes, limited real-time visibility and infrastructural constraints have restricted its full potential. The purpose of this research is to explore how advanced digital solutions, including Internet of Things (IoT), real-time analytics and augmented/virtual reality (AR/VR), can address these barriers and enhance the competitiveness and sustainability of apparel manufacturing in a dynamic global market. Design/methodology/approach – A qualitative single-case study design was used to provide an in-depth understanding of digital–lean integration. The research was conducted in collaboration with a leading Sri Lankan apparel manufacturer. Data were collected through on-site factory observations, semi-structured interviews with managers and employees and examination of company records. Using Yin’s (2018) case study methodology as a guiding framework, the study analyzed how selected I4.0 technologies were implemented alongside lean tools and how these interventions addressed identified operational inefficiencies. Findings – The study found that I4.0-enabled solutions significantly enhanced lean practices by improving production workflow transparency, defect detection and downtime reduction. Tools such as IoT-linked dashboards, electronic Kanban systems and automated performance monitoring minimized non-value-adding activities and reduced bottlenecks. AR/VR applications demonstrated potential for training and machine setup, while predictive maintenance improved equipment reliability. However, the research also identified persistent shortcomings, including data confidentiality issues, workforce adaptability challenges and high capital investment requirements. The findings highlight both the opportunities and practical limitations of integrating digital technologies into lean environments. Research limitations/implications – The research was limited to a single case study of a large apparel manufacturer in Sri Lanka, which constrains the generalizability of findings. Data confidentiality policies restricted access to detailed financial information, preventing quantitative analysis of productivity gains and return on investment. Future studies could extend this research by including multiple firms across varying scales and geographies, enabling comparative insights. Broader empirical studies that quantify the financial outcomes of digital–lean integration would provide further validation and support for industry-wide adoption. Practical implications – For practitioners, the study offers a roadmap for integrating I4.0 technologies with lean practices in apparel manufacturing. The evidence suggests that digital lean tools can enhance transparency, improve workflow efficiency and support more accurate decision-making. Managers should prioritize investments in IoT-enabled monitoring, predictive maintenance and digital visual management systems while addressing workforce readiness through training programs. Attention must also be given to cybersecurity and change management to ensure sustainable implementation. These findings are particularly relevant for resource-constrained firms seeking to maximize operational efficiency while navigating global competitive pressures. Social implications – The integration of I4.0 and LM in Sri Lanka’s apparel sector holds broader social benefits by safeguarding employment in a critical export industry that provides livelihoods for over 300, 000 workers. Enhanced productivity and competitiveness contribute to economic stability and foreign exchange earnings. Moreover, digital lean practices can reduce waste, contributing to environmental sustainability and aligning with global sustainable development goals. By strengthening the resilience of the apparel sector, these advancements can help sustain jobs and improve working conditions, particularly in developing country contexts where apparel remains a cornerstone of industrial growth. Originality/value – This study provides one of the first in-depth examinations of how I4.0 technologies can act as enablers of LM in the Sri Lankan apparel industry. Unlike prior studies that treat lean and digital transformation as separate trajectories, this research highlights their synergies and tradeoffs in practice. By capturing both the benefits and shortcomings of digital lean tools, the paper contributes to theory by extending understanding of lean–I4.0 integration in emerging economy contexts. It also offers practical value by providing industry-specific insights that can inform managers’ strategic decisions on digital transformation.Publication Embargo The digital bridge: how digital transformation mediates the innovative culture-resilience nexus in IT firms(Emerald Publishing, 2025) Kodithuwakku, T; Samaraweera, I; Mathew, M; Samarakkody, T; Thelijjagoda, S; Gamage, SPurpose – This study aims to identify the impact of innovative culture on organizational resilience in the Sri Lankan information technology (IT) sector, with a specific focus on the mediation role of digital transformation. Design/methodology/approach – Using a quantitative approach, data were collected from over 274 participants who were managerial or above-level employees in the IT industry via surveys. Partial least squares structural equation modeling was used to analyze the data and test the hypothesized relationships between variables. Findings – The findings of this study revealed that innovative culture has a significant positive impact on the adoption of digital transformation, as the innovative mindset that is ingrained encourages continuous growth, creativity and risk-taking, thereby strengthening digital transformation initiatives. Both innovative culture and digital transformation have a significant positive impact on organizational resilience. Digital transformation significantly mediates the effect of innovative culture on organizational resilience. Practical implications – The findings offer valuable guidance to industry leaders and policymakers for the strategic utilization of technology and the design of appropriate business models. Originality/value – This study emphasizes the importance of developing innovative culture and digital transformation in the IT industry to ensure sustainable business processes.Publication Open Access Identification of Some Major Research Gaps in Lean Manufacturing and Industry 4.0 Integration(SLIIT Business School, 2023-12-14) Rajapaksha, S; Jayarathne, P.G.S.A; Galdolage, SIn the contemporary business world, digitalization has become a significant factor in economic development. Lean is a prominent topic in both academia and business. Due to the evolution of digital technologies that promote Industry 4.0 because of the industrial revolution, the integration of Lean Manufacturing and Industry 4.0 has attracted the attention of academics and managers. This conceptual paper discusses the integration of Lean Manufacturing and Industry 4.0, as well as the research gaps and prospective research opportunities related to integration. Systematic Literature Review (SLR) in the PRISMA framework has been used to identify research gaps, and future studies could be planned to close these gaps to benefit academia and industry stakeholders. Keyword co-occurrence analysis has been performed using VOSviewer software to identify areas that need the attention of researchers. Articles were extracted from the Scopus database using the keywords "Lean Manufacturing" and "Industry 4.0". This study concentrates on identifying research gaps that industry leaders and managers would be interested in, rather than the gaps in conceptual nature.Publication Open Access Digital Distilleries: Navigating Industry 4.0 Trends in Sri Lanka’s Beverage Industry(ICSDB 2024 and SLIIT Business School, 2024-12-10) Thakshila, P.; Kushani, M.; Darshana, S.; Herath, B.; Pathirana, G.; Jayasinghe, P.; Ehalapitiya, S.Industry 4.0 is a rapidly evolving paradigm allowing industries to explore digital transformation opportunities to provide services and products to both existing and new markets at competitive prices. Developed nations have largely capitalized on Industry 4.0, creating fresh market opportunities by embedding advanced technologies in industrial processes. This research assesses the readiness for implementing Industry 4.0 in Sri Lanka’s beverage sector through primary data. Using focus group interviews with managerial-level employees in large-scale beverage firms, this study identifies technical, operational, and market/environmental factors as key influences in adopting Industry 4.0 in this sector. The findings contribute actionable insights into strategic pathways for digital transformation.Publication Embargo Enriching Resilience in Smart Manufacturing: Critical Analysis of Industry 4.0 Technologies on Sustainable Production Process(SLIIT, Faculty of Engineering, 2024-10) Karunarathne, P L D N; Gamage, H C T; Kawya, M V TIntegration of Industry 4.0 technologies in smart manufacturing in the context of sustainable production processes has opened new paths to enrich resilience. This research aims at how Industry 4.0 technologies can be applied to smart manufacturing which is empowered by sustainable production processes in order to achieve maximum resilience. Through a broad literature review, key theories, concepts, and practical and theoretical studies related to smart manufacturing, resilience, and sustainability of production processes are examined. And the theme itself drives to establish a couple of research questions in order to find solutions and derive research inventions as to how Industry 4.0 technologies can enrich resilience in manufacturing and what sustainability implications arise from their adoption. And data gathering is been done using a simple questionnaire and analyzed using an extensive as well as a comparative method after considering how production processes have been changed before and after applying Industry 4.0 technologies. Overall, Industry 4.0 not only creates a more efficient and higher quality production process, but it also enables the things like predictive and preventive maintenance and upgrades, which results in lower downtime and less capital expenditure over time.Publication Open Access Impact of Industry 4.0 Technologies on Sustainable Manufacturing(SLIIT Faculty of Engineering, 2024-03) Ramalingam, A; Perera, CIndustry 4.0 (I4.0) and its associated technologies are increasingly becoming a key aspect of the manufacturing industry in an age where sustainable manufacturing has become a fundamental consideration. Despite Industry 4.0 technologies such as robotics, autonomous systems and Internet of Things (IoT) considered dominant enablers of sustainable manufacturing, the precise impact of these technologies on sustainability remains relatively unexplored as the research in this context remains limited. Therefore, the need for meticulous study and the development of a framework for the assessment of I4.0 technologies’ impact towards enhancement of sustainable manufacturing is evident. The report contains an extensive literature review on several I4.0 technologies, the Triple Bottom Line (TBL) aspects of sustainability and how the respective I4.0 technologies impact the factors contributing to the TBL aspects of sustainability. Through a combination of theoretically available information and practical case studies in the Sri Lankan manufacturing industry, a conclusive framework is developed on how the implementation of the identified Industry 4.0 technologies contribute to achieving holistic sustainability across the Triple Bottom Line aspects. Additionally, through further study and multiplecriteria decision analysis methods, the most sustainably impactful technologies are determined with regards to the manufacturing industry.Publication Embargo Industry 4.0 Implementation in Sri Lankan Manufacturing Firms: A Lean Perspective(IEEE, 2023-08-17) Bandara, L; Withanaarachchi, A; Peter, SManufacturing industries require the highest quality and efficiency throughout their value chain, to compete with countries having a labor cost advantage. Today, manufacturing firms are in a fast-phased run to automate their processes and increase value chain integration through advanced technologies. Industry 4.0 has gained traction within this community, where its components like IoT, Big data, and Cloud computing are being used by manufacturing firms to optimize and increase the efficiency of their workplaces. Obtaining the proper outcomes from these advanced technologies has been an issue for most of its users. Very few studies were found in the literature, that propose ways to mitigate the issues faced by these companies in their Industry 4.0 journey. Lean concepts are a popular and proven methodology used by firms worldwide to decrease the complexity and increase the productivity of their processes. Based on a systematic literature review, the study identifies the current knowledge on mitigating the barriers faced by manufacturing firms in Industry 4.0 implementations. To address the knowledge gap identified in the literature review, the study proposes and statistically tests a framework, on how the manufacturing environment can be improved to obtain the expected outcomes of Industry 4.0 implementations, through a lean theoretical lens. Thus, the stakeholders of the company can contribute towards successful implementations of Industry 4.0 while organizational processes are being standardized and optimized to integrate these advanced technological shifts.Publication Open Access Operation Flexibility Focused Capability Impact on Supply Chain Risks in Sri Lankan Courier Companies(Emerald Publishing, 2022-12-01) Kendangamuwa, J.K; Senanayake, T.V; Jayasundara, I.H; Botheju, I.U; Madhavika, W.D.N; Weerarathna, R.SThis study primarily looks at how operation flexibility focused capability impacts supply chain risks in the Sri Lankan courier sector in the industry 4.0. This is meant to measure both the good and bad effects that operation flexibility focused capability has had on Sri Lankan courier companies. This research gives the reader, some important information and ideas that they can use to reduce any negative effects or improve their ability to innovate in logistics. Also, this study will look into a number of ways to reduce supply chain risks caused by operation flexibility focused capability. This research paper discusses about how operation flexibility focused capability impacts on the company side, risks on the customer side, and the environment side risks. Also, based on the research model and hypothesis, researchers estimated that operation flexibility focused capability has a statistically significant effect on company side risks, customer side risks, and environmental side risks. A thorough review of the literature and a questionnaire survey with managers and executives in the Sri Lankan courier industry were used to collect data for the research paper. A sample population of 60 courier companies were selected from the Registrar of companies and based on the morgan’s table, 52 courier companies were selected as the sample size. Simple random sampling was used as the sampling technique to derive the sample size. Smart PLS (Partial Least Square Method) version 4 was used to validate the sample data collected for the research paper through an empirical analysis of the questionnaire survey data.