The ability to acquire and utilize new knowledge within an inter-organizational context is considered a key factor for gaining competitive advantage. This study aims at investigating how organizations do cross-border collaboration in the context of realizing Industry 4.0 principles at the operational level. The ever demand for advances in products, processes and systems, in a symbioses of product- and service performance, require new skills and knowledge at both organizational and inter-organizational level. This study investigates three case companies, and their maintenance departments, in order to understand if and how their role has changed in parallel with the adaption and implementation of Industry 4.0.