R Digital Transformation in Metallurgy: Challenges and Opportunities

Abstract

The article examines the processes of digital transformation in the U.S. metallurgical industry in the context of Industry 4.0 implementation. Based on a review of scientific publications, industry reports, and corporate case studies, the scale and dynamics of digitalization are analyzed, as well as the economic and technical effects of introducing IIoT, artificial intelligence, digital twins, robotics, and cloud platforms. The impact of digital solutions on production efficiency, downtime reduction, cost optimization, product quality improvement, and supply chain resilience is demonstrated. Particular attention is paid to organizational and managerial aspects of transformation, the challenges of modernizing legacy equipment, workforce skills shortages, cybersecurity risks, and the justification of investment efficiency. On the basis of the synthesized results, the key opportunities and constraints of digitalization for contemporary metallurgy are identified, along with strategic orientations for the further development of the industry.