The history of industry shows progress through industrial revolutions that harnessed energy, reorganized labor, and increased productivity. The fourth industrial revolution addresses challenges like mass customization and climate change by connecting production resources through digital technologies. The concept of the Smart Factory emerged, emphasizing automation and connectivity. Building on this, the Dark Factory vision involves fully automated, human-free production facilities for increased efficiency, flexibility, and productivity. This vision allows factories to handle small, customized production orders and achieve high efficiency, described as the "holy grail of manufacturing." However, the Dark Factory concept is not yet widely implemented, and businesses face challenges in selecting the right technologies and pathways. This study provides guidance to assess how close a factory is to becoming a Dark Factory and identifies relevant technologies. The study outlines tools to help businesses navigate the complexities of implementation. Deliverables include methods to evaluate readiness and identify necessary advancements. The study aims to support companies in achieving the vision of Dark Factories through clear and actionable insights.

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