Background: This paper has the aim to address the key area of managing complex Industry 4.0 production systems to support a successful adoption and integration of Industry 4.0. This is achieved by approaching methodological research challenges of Industry 4.0 in the form of lacking reference models and the need to establish common definitions of fundamental concepts. The general underlying challenge this paper aims to contribute to solve can therefore be defined as how the technological advances, like CPS, IoT, Big Data or CC can be best linked with each other on different levels of perspective and how they can be used by decision-makers to generate economic value and to improve existing processes. This is achieved through the introduction of the Industry 4.0 Knowledge & Technology Framework (IKTF). Methods: The Industry 4.0 Knowledge Framework (IKTF) is based on the concept of the micro-meso-macro analysis framework and consequently is representative for the approach of micro-meso-macro analysis in managerial practice. It proposes three categories of factors and places them in three basic levels layering them on top of each other. The macro-level includes the financial, political and sociocultural factors that influence Industry 4.0. The meso-level includes the technical and organizational factors. The micro-level refers to individual factors, particularly individual companies' intention to use Industry 4.0 in practical economic contexts. Results: The Industry 4.0 Knowledge & Technology Framework (IKTF) provides guidance to corporate decision makers by providing a comprehensive, multi-level sequential integration framework for Industry 4.0 based on a sequential micro, meso and macro perspective analysis of the individual corporate context. The aim of the IKTF is to support an informed and successful managerial decision-making process and therefore enable the integration of Industry 4.0 in a corporate context. Conclusion: As a first step, the structure, and contents of the IKTF are sequentially introduced and described. In a second and final step the functionality and applicability of the IKTF are demonstrated and discussed on a theoretical and practical level with the help of a case study.
