Recently, the implementation of Industry 4.0 has become a new tendency, and it brings both opportunities and challenges to worldwide manufacturing companies. Thus, many manufacturing companies are attempting to find advanced technologies to launch intelligent manufacturing transformation. In this study, we propose a new model to measure the intelligent manufacturing readiness for the process industry, which aims to guide companies in recognizing their current stage and short slabs when carrying out intelligent manufacturing transformation. Although some models have already been reported to measure Industry 4.0 readiness and maturity, there are no models that are aimed at the process industry. This newly proposed model has six levels to describe different development stages for intelligent manufacturing. In addition, the model consists of four races, nine species, and 25 domains that are relevant to the essential businesses of companies’ daily operation and capability requirements of intelligent manufacturing. Furthermore, these 25 domains are divided into 249 characteristic items to evaluate the manufacturing readiness in detail. A questionnaire is also designed based on the proposed model to help process-industry companies easily carry out self-diagnosis. Using the new method, a case including 196 real-world process-industry companies is evaluated to introduce the method of how to use the proposed model. Overall, the proposed model provides a new way to assess the degree of intelligent manufacturing readiness for process-industry companies. Process industry Industry 4.0 Readiness model Intelligent manufacturing Readiness index References Akdil KY , Ustundag A , Cevikcan E , 2018 . Maturity and readiness model for Industry 4.0 strategy . In: Ustundag A, Cevikcan E (Eds.), Industry 4.0: Managing the Digital Transformation . Springer , Cham , p. 61 - 94 . https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-57870-5_4 https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-57870-5_4 Maturity and readiness model for Industry 4.0 strategy Angreani LS , Vijaya A , Wicaksono H , 2020 . Systematic literature review of Industry 4.0 maturity model for manufacturing and logistics sectors . Proc Manuf , 52 : 337 - 343 . https://doi.‍org/10.1016/j.‍promfg.‍2020.11.056 https://doi.‍org/10.1016/j.‍promfg.‍2020.11.056 Systematic literature review of Industry 4.0 maturity model for manufacturing and logistics sectors Basl J , Doucek P , 2019 . A metamodel for evaluating enterprise readiness in the context of Industry 4.0 . Information , 10 ( 3 ): 89 . https://doi.org/10.3390/info10030089 https://doi.org/10.3390/info10030089 A metamodel for evaluating enterprise readiness in the context of Industry 4.0 Bibby L , Dehe B , 2018 . Defining and assessing Industry 4.0 maturity levels - case of the defence sector . Prod Plann Contr , 29 ( 12 ): 1030 - 1043 . https://doi.org/10.1080/09537287.2018.1503355 https://doi.org/10.1080/09537287.2018.1503355 Defining and assessing Industry 4.0 maturity levels - case of the defence sector Blanchet M , Rinn T , Von Thanden G , et al. , 2014 . Roland Berger Industry 4.0 Readiness Index . Roland Berger Strategy Consultants . Roland Berger Industry 4.0 Readiness Index Botha AP , 2018 . Rapidly arriving futures: future readiness for Industry 4.0 . S Afr J Ind Eng , 29 ( 3 ):‍ 148 - 160 . https://doi.org/10.7166/29-3-2056 https://doi.org/10.7166/29-3-2056 Rapidly arriving futures: future readiness for Industry 4.0 Boyes H , Hallaq B , Cunningham J , et al. , 2018 . The Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT): an analysis framework . Comput Ind , 101 : 1 - 12 . https://doi.org/10.1016/j.compind.2018.04.015 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.compind.2018.04.015 The Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT): an analysis framework Chonsawat N , Sopadang A , 2021 . Smart SMEs 4.0 maturity model to evaluate the readiness of SMEs implementing Industry 4.0 . Chiang Mai Univ J Nat Sci , 20 ( 2 ): e2021027 . https://doi.org/10.12982/cmujns.2021.027 https://doi.org/10.12982/cmujns.2021.027 Smart SMEs 4.0 maturity model to evaluate the readiness of SMEs implementing Industry 4.0 Demeter K , Losonci D , Szász L , et al. , 2018 . Assessing Industry 4.0 readiness: a multi-country industry level analysis . Proc 25 th Annu EurOMA Conf . Assessing Industry 4.0 readiness: a multi-country industry level analysis Dilberoglu UM , Gharehpapagh B , Yaman U , et al. , 2017 . The role of additive manufacturing in the era of Industry 4.0 . Proc Manuf , 11 : 545 - 554 . https://doi.org/10.1016/j.promfg.2017.07.148 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.promfg.2017.07.148 The role of additive manufacturing in the era of Industry 4.0 Erol S , Schumacher A , Sihn W , 2016 . Strategic guidance towards Industry 4.0—a three-stage process model . Proc Int Conf on Competitive Manufacturing . Strategic guidance towards Industry 4.0—a three-stage process model Gökalp E , Şener U , Eren PE , 2017 . Development of an assessment model for Industry 4.0: Industry 4.0-MM . Proc 17 th Int Conf on Software Process Improvement and Capability Determination , p. 128 - 142 . https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-67383-7_10 https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-67383-7_10 Development of an assessment model for Industry 4.0: Industry 4.0-MM Hamidi SR , Aziz AA , Shuhidan SM , et al. , 2018 . SMEs maturity model assessment of IR4.0 digital transformation . Proc 7 th Int Conf on Kansei Engineering and Emotion Research , p. 721 - 732 . https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-10-8612-0_75 https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-10-8612-0_75 SMEs maturity model assessment of IR4.0 digital transformation He B , Bai KJ , 2021 . Digital twin-based sustainable intelligent manufacturing: a review . Adv Manuf , 9 ( 1 ): 1 - 21 . https://doi.org/10.1007/s40436-020-00302-5 https://doi.org/10.1007/s40436-020-00302-5 Digital twin-based sustainable intelligent manufacturing: a review Hizam-Hanafiah M , Soomro MA , Abdullah NL , 2020 . Industry 4.0 readiness models: a systematic literature review of model dimensions . Information , 11 ( 7 ): 364 . https://doi.org/10.3390/info11070364 https://doi.org/10.3390/info11070364 Industry 4.0 readiness models: a systematic literature review of model dimensions Holubek R , Kostal P , 2013 . The intelligent manufacturing systems . Adv Sci Lett , 19 ( 3 ): 972 - 975 . https://doi.org/10.1166/asl.2013.4816 https://doi.org/10.1166/asl.2013.4816 The intelligent manufacturing systems Horvat D , Stahlecker T , Zenker A , et al. , 2018 . A conceptual approach to analysing manufacturing companies' profiles concerning Industry 4.0 in emerging economies . Proc Manuf , 17 : 419 - 426 . https://doi.org/10.1016/j.promfg.2018.10.065 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.promfg.2018.10.065 A conceptual approach to analysing manufacturing companies' profiles concerning Industry 4.0 in emerging economies Kang HS , Lee JY , Choi S , et al. , 2016 . Smart manufacturing: past research, present findings, and future directions . Int J Prec Eng Manuf Green Technol , 3 ( 1 ): 111 - 128 . https://doi.org/10.1007/s40684-016-0015-5 https://doi.org/10.1007/s40684-016-0015-5 Smart manufacturing: past research, present findings, and future directions Li BH , Hou BC , Yu WT , et al. , 2017 . Applications of artificial intelligence in intelligent manufacturing: a review . Front Inform Technol Electron Eng , 18 ( 1 ): 86 - 96 . https://doi.org/10.1631/FITEE.1601885 https://doi.org/10.1631/FITEE.1601885 Applications of artificial intelligence in intelligent manufacturing: a review Lichtblau K , Stich V , Bertenrath R , et al. , 2015 . IMPULS-Industrie 4.0-Readiness . Impuls-Stiftung des VDMA , Aachen-Köln. IMPULS-Industrie 4.0-Readiness Lin WD , Low MYH , Chong YT , et al. , 2019 . Application of SIRI for Industry 4.0 maturity assessment and analysis . Proc IEEE Int Conf on Industrial Engineering and Engineering Management , p. 1450 - 1454 . https://doi.org/10.1109/IEEM44572.2019.8978720 https://doi.org/10.1109/IEEM44572.2019.8978720 Application of SIRI for Industry 4.0 maturity assessment and analysis Methavitakul B , Santiteerakul S , 2018 . Analysis of key dimension and sub-dimension for Supply Chian of Industry to fourth Industry Performance Measurement . Proc IEEE Int Conf on Service Operations and Logistics , and Informatics, p. 191 - 195 . https://doi.org/10.1109/SOLI.2018.8476765 https://doi.org/10.1109/SOLI.2018.8476765 Analysis of key dimension and sub-dimension for Supply Chian of Industry to fourth Industry Performance Measurement Oztemel E , Gursev S , 2020 . Literature review of Industry 4.0 and related technologies . J Intell Manuf , 31 ( 1 ): 127 - 182 . https://doi.org/10.1007/s10845-018-1433-8 https://doi.org/10.1007/s10845-018-1433-8 Literature review of Industry 4.0 and related technologies Pacchini APT , Lucato WC , Facchini F , et al. , 2019 . The degree of readiness for the implementation of Industry 4.0 . Comput Ind , 113 : 103125 . https://doi.org/10.1016/j.compind.2019.103125 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.compind.2019.103125 The degree of readiness for the implementation of Industry 4.0 Pereira AC , Romero F , 2017 . A review of the meanings and the implications of the Industry 4.0 concept . Proc Manuf , 13 : 1206 - 1214 . https://doi.org/10.1016/j.promfg.2017.09.032 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.promfg.2017.09.032 A review of the meanings and the implications of the Industry 4.0 concept Schaupp E , Abele E , Metternich J , 2017 . Potentials of digitalization in tool management . Proc CIRP , 63 : 144 - 149 . https://doi.org/10.1016/j.procir.2017.03.172 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.procir.2017.03.172 Potentials of digitalization in tool management Schuh G , Anderl R , Gausemeier J , et al. , 2017 . Industrie 4.0 Maturity Index . Managing the Digital Transformation of Companies (Acatech STUDY). Herbert Utz Verlag , Munich . Industrie 4.0 Maturity Index Schumacher A , Erol S , Sihn W , 2016 . A maturity model for assessing Industry 4.0 readiness and maturity of manufacturing enterprises . Proc CIRP , 52 : 161 - 166 . https://doi.org/10.1016/j.procir.2016.07.040 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.procir.2016.07.040 A maturity model for assessing Industry 4.0 readiness and maturity of manufacturing enterprises Singapore Economic Development Board , 2017 . The Singapore smart Industry Readiness Index: Catalysing the Transformation of Manufacturing . Singapore EDB . The Singapore smart Industry Readiness Index: Catalysing the Transformation of Manufacturing Stefan L , Thom W , Dominik L , et al. , 2018 . Concept for an evolutionary maturity based Industrie 4.0 migration model . Proc CIRP , 72 : 404 - 409 . https://doi.org/10.1016/j.procir.2018.03.155 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.procir.2018.03.155 Concept for an evolutionary maturity based Industrie 4.0 migration model Wang BC , Tao F , Fang XD , et al. , 2021 . Smart manufacturing and intelligent manufacturing: a comparative review . Engineering , 7 ( 6 ): 738 - 757 . https://doi.org/10.1016/j.eng.2020.07.017 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.eng.2020.07.017 Smart manufacturing and intelligent manufacturing: a comparative review Wang LH , 2019 . From intelligence science to intelligent manufacturing . Engineering , 5 ( 4 ): 615 - 618 . https://doi.org/10.1016/j.eng.2019.04.011 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.eng.2019.04.011 From intelligence science to intelligent manufacturing World Economic Forum , 2022 . The Global Lighthouse Network Playbook for Responsible Industry Transformation . World Economic Forum . The Global Lighthouse Network Playbook for Responsible Industry Transformation Wright PK , Bourne DA , 1988 . Manufacturing Intelligence . Addison-Wesley , Reading, USA . Manufacturing Intelligence Wu FJ , Kao YF , Tseng YC , 2011 . From wireless sensor networks towards cyber physical systems . Perv Mob Comput , 7 ( 4 ): 397 - 413 . https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pmcj.2011.03.003 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pmcj.2011.03.003 From wireless sensor networks towards cyber physical systems Zhong RY , Xu X , Klotz E , et al. , 2017 . Intelligent manufacturing in the context of Industry 4.0: a review . Engineering , 3 ( 5 ): 616 - 630 . https://doi.org/10.1016/J.ENG.2017.05.015 https://doi.org/10.1016/J.ENG.2017.05.015 Intelligent manufacturing in the context of Industry 4.0: a review Zuehlke D , 2010 . SmartFactory—towards a factory-of-things . Ann Rev Contr , 34 ( 1 ): 129 - 138 . https://doi.org/10.1016/j.arcontrol.2010.02.008 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.arcontrol.2010.02.008 SmartFactory—towards a factory-of-things