Evaluating Industry 4.0 implementation obstacles and solutions for the medical waste reverse logistics system

This research investigates the adoption of Industry 4.0 (I4.0) technologies such as IoT, AI and Big Data in the reverse logistics (RLs) system for managing medical waste, particularly in India, where the healthcare sector and biomedical waste generation are rapidly increasing. This study utilises an integrated approach of the Pythagorean fuzzy analytic hierarchy process (PF-AHP) and Pythagorean fuzzy combined compromised solution (PF-CoCoSo) to assess barriers and strategies for I4.0 implementation. Through an empirical case study of an Indian pharmaceutical company, the research identifies key obstacles and solutions. The results reveal that the lack of upper management commitment is the primary barrier, while gaining senior management support is crucial for successful adoption. This study offers valuable insights for researchers, practitioners and policymakers to develop effective strategies for incorporating I4.0 technologies into medical waste management systems, enhancing efficiency, transparency and safety.