AI-MANUFACTURING READINESS INSTRUMENT (AI-MRI): DEVELOPMENT AND PILOT VALIDATION IN CHINESE MANUFACTURING FIRMS
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.35631/IJIREV.826031Keywords:
AI Readiness, Manufacturing, Digital Transformation, Scale Development, Pilot Validation, Chinese Manufacturing FirmsAbstract
Artificial intelligence (AI) adoption in manufacturing depends not only on technical availability but also on whether firms have the organizational, financial, environmental, and managerial conditions needed to use AI effectively. Many existing AI readiness and digital maturity frameworks remain generic, largely conceptual, or insufficiently validated for manufacturing settings. This paper develops and pilot-validates the AI-Manufacturing Readiness Instrument (AI-MRI), a self-assessment instrument for manufacturing firms. Drawing on AI readiness, technology-organization-environment logic, organizational readiness, and manufacturing readiness literature, the study followed a systematic review of 34 peer-reviewed studies, item development, expert validation, and pilot testing. The resulting instrument includes five dimensions, 17 subdimensions, and 51 items: technological readiness, organizational readiness, financial readiness, external environment perception, and AI application awareness and perceived impact. A pilot survey of 152 organizational informants from Chinese manufacturing firms was used to examine reliability, item quality, construct structure, and preliminary known-groups validity. The five dimensions showed strong internal consistency, with Cronbach's alpha values between 0.850 and 0.907. Exploratory factor analysis supported a five-factor structure, with KMO = 0.816 and cumulative explained variance of 80.091%. Because confirmatory factor analysis was conducted on the same pilot sample, it is reported as a preliminary model check rather than independent confirmation; the model showed acceptable fit and convergent validity. Group comparisons showed meaningful differences in financial readiness and external environment perception across AI implementation levels. The AI-MRI offers a manufacturing-specific and multidimensional readiness instrument that may serve as a preliminary diagnostic tool for firms planning AI transformation. Given the pilot design, the findings should be further tested with larger independent samples, criterion-related validity evidence, and cross-national validation.
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