Data Envelopment Analysis and Technologies of the Industry of the Future: A Scoping Review

Abstract

Efficiency is a central driver of the industry of the future, serving as both a strategic transformation goal
and a cornerstone of smart manufacturing. Modern data-driven approaches have introduced new ways
to analyze efficiency in production processes. This study examines the integration of data envelopment
analysis (DEA), a widely applied efficiency evaluation method, and Industry 4.0 technologies.
A qualitative review was performed using the Web of Science, Scopus, and IEEE Xplore databases,
supported by thematic analysis. Key application areas include robotics and internet of things (IoT)
systems. The state-of-the-art analysis enabled the identification of strategies for improving performance
assessment in human-centric production systems. Promising directions involve hybrid and ensemble
models that merge interpretability and transparency with predictive capabilities, autonomy, and largescale
data processing. These approaches are strengthened by explainable artificial intelligence (XAI),
which enhances user understanding and trust in intelligent decision-making systems.