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The statistical process control (SPC) is widely used in industry. Its aim is to achieve proces stability and improve capability through the reduction of variability and it is included for example in the Six Sigma or Lean Six Sigma methodologies. The control of attribute data represents a considerable part of it. Until recently, the same approach was used to monitor variables or attributes data. In this approach, subgroups of items are taken from a process and sample characteristics are plotted in a control chart to see whether their variation is only random or whether it is affected by an assignable cause. The presence of such cause is indicated by exceeding the control limits that are based on the sample characteristic distribution.

Managers often have to face kinds of decision-making problems in which a suitable investment alternative has to be evaluated and selected (Zhou et al., 2019; Yan et al., 2017; Rostamzadeh et al., 2017). Such a choice maybe related, for instance, to the technology choose for product development or machine selection for a manufacturing process (Frank et al., 2013). This kind of investment alternatives can be considered a multiple attribute decisionmaking (MADM) problem as it involves a variety of attributes that should be taken into account from finite feasible schemes based on the assessment information provided by decision makers. Due to the uncertain objects and ambiguous human thinking, sometimes it is impossible for decision makers to give all the evaluation values of attributes by exact numbers. The definition of fuzzy set is firstly introduced by Zadeh (1965) to address the uncertainty and ambiguity, which has been widely used in various domains.

Motivation research has a long history of considering employee motives and needs, and it is still popular. To find the reason, it is not necessary to look for a long time. Numerous studies have shown that employees could be the most valuable asset that organizations have. Employees, with their knowledge, skills, abilities, and work attitudes, influence how efficiently resources and means are used. Kazdová (2012) says that the employee who is motivated speaks about the firm positively, sees his/her future in the firm, and makes an extra effort which leads to the improvement of organizational outputs. According to Swift, Balkin, and Matusik (2010), employee motivation influences knowledge sharing in the organization, among other things. If the employee is motivated, he/she is more willing to share knowledge (Hau, Kim, Lee, & Kim, 2013).

Industrialization, a major force in structural change, shifts resources from labour-intensive activities to more capital technology-intensive activities. It will remain crucial to the future growth of developing countries. Manufacturing’s share of GDP has remained stable over the last 40 years. Technology and capital equipment are the main drivers of both manufacturing growth and aggregate growth in developed and developing countries, although in developing countries energy and natural resources use affects growth in the medium- and low-tech industries (Unido, 2018). Currently, the industrial value creation is shaped by the development towards the fourth stage of industrialization, so-called Industry 4.0. Industry 4.0, referred to as the “Fourth Industrial Revolution”, also known as “smart manufacturing”, “industrial internet” or “integrated industry”, is currently a muchdiscussed topic.

Mechanical engineering belongs to the key industries in Slovakia. In terms of achieved sales and the rate of employment, it ranks among the largest manufacturing industries. The industry currently employs 12 per cent of the population and accounts for up to 42 per cent of total output of the Slovak Republic. Many of the enterprises operating in this industry are small or mediumsized. This industry apparently plays an essential role in the global economy, it is a source of entrepreneurship, innovations and new jobs. These are some of the reasons for which SMEs´ profitability and ways of its improvement should draw particular attention. It is therefore obvious that the issues of the financial analysis in SMEs are receiving constant attention. Since SMEs are the backbone of the Slovak economy and mechanical engineering is one of its key industries, our intention in this article is to focus attention on profitability and factors influencing it in SMEs active in the mechanical engineering industry.