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This study proposes a field study, based on a systematic literature review,
about the applications and impacts of Industry 4.0 (I4.0) in the
biopharmaceutical sector. The world is facing a new industrial revolution that
is happening at a faster pace than the previous ones. The central idea is the
integration between the virtual and the real world through elements that will
allow a greater degree of automation and digitization of processes The
fieldwork, carried out between July and December 2019, considered semi-
structured interviews with managers of pharmaceutical companies or
specialists in the I4.0 theme. The interviews pointed out the need for the
biopharmaceutical sector to adapt to the concepts of I4.0 and identified its
main benefits and barriers. The perceptions were considerably diversified,
with the benefits in operational efficiency, productivity and quality being the
most scored items. Regarding the main barriers, the most highlighted by the
interviewees were the need to break organizational cultural standards,
regulatory requirements, the lack of organizational strategies for
implementation and the lack of qualified professionals. In conclusion, this
work in progress is a contribution to the biopharmaceutical sector and
reinforces the imminent need for companies to adapt to this new reality.