Operator 4.0: What to Know to Share Knowledge?

The Industry 4.0 paradigm represents a significant transformation for organizations that become increasingly automated through the implementation of new disruptive technologies. In this context, knowledge is the primary strategic asset underpinning competitive advantage; therefore, knowledge sharing (KS) is vital for business success as it increases the company knowledge base. Since KS requires the active involvement of the workforce, the paper explores what skills the operator 4.0 must have to facilitate and enhance the KS process through interaction with the workplace and technology infrastructure. Specifically, we argue that operator 4.0 needs a pool of knowledge, i.e., T-shaped skills, to optimally participate and facilitate knowledge transfer within the organization.