Diagnosis of the maturity level for the adoption of mining 4.0 at CVG Ferrominera Orinoco C.A. – Venezuela

Abstract

Mining 4.0 represents a transformative paradigm and a strategic imperative for maintaining competitiveness in the global market for the mining industry. However, its adoption in emerging economies, particularly in environments with significant constraints such as Venezuela, presents unique challenges, as the existing technological gap becomes tangible when comparing the company's current operating model with the capabilities of Mining 4.0. This study aims to diagnose the level of maturity for the adoption of 4.0 technologies at CVG Ferrominera Orinoco C.A. Using a quantitative methodological approach and a cross-sectional, non-experimental design, a 15-item questionnaire with a 5-point Likert scale was administered to 50 employees in supervisory and managerial positions. This instrument was based on the validated maturity dimensions (technological infrastructure, digital strategy, innovation processes, and human capital development) of Hizam-Hanafiah (2020). The analysis shows that the dimension with the lowest average rating is processes and innovation (1.43), followed by technological infrastructure (1.58). It can be concluded that the organization is in a state of low maturity, characterized by an obsolete technological infrastructure and a nonexistent culture of innovation. The analysis by dimensions reveals that the critical issue is not the technology itself, but rather a profound gap between leadership's intentions and the organization's execution capacity, caused by the absence of a clear strategy and a lack of investment in human capital development.