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Industry 4.0 and Industrial Sustainability

A special issue of Sustainability (ISSN 2071-1050).

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 December 2020) | Viewed by 30928

Special Issue Editors


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Guest Editor
Research Unit on Governance, Competitiveness and Public Policies (GOVCOPP) and Department of Economics, Management, Industrial Engineering and Tourism (DEGEIT), University of Aveiro, 3810-193 Aveiro, Portugal
Interests: innovation; internationalistion; sustainability
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

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Guest Editor
FEP-School of Economics and Business, University of Porto, Portugal
Interests: internationalization; foreign direct investment; innovation; industrial competitiveness; public policy

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Industry 4.0 (I4.0) and the Circular Economy are two emerging concepts likely to redefine how our economy and industries work. There is an understanding that the combination of the two will lead us faster towards the Green Economy, and may contribute to harmonizing ambitions for economic growth and environmental protection.

Indeed, it has been recognized that the underlying drivers and technologies of Industry 4.0 might help fulfill the potential of the Circular Economy towards a more sustainable industry. The numerous synergies between them need to be tackled.

Yet, existing research addressing the two areas is still very scant and there are plenty of research issues to address.

This Special Issue aims to encourage researchers to explore the linkages between Industry 4.0 and Sustainability, to facilitate and speed up the transition into a Circular Economy, contributing to hasten the acquisition of competitive advantages for industries and firms in the future.

To address this area of research, the proposed Special Issue calls for papers that present applied work on issues including, but not limited to:

  • linkages between Industry 4.0 and the Circular Economy;
  • sustainability assessments for Industry 4.0;
  • the impact of sustainable I4.0 technologies on different areas, such as competitiveness, efficiency, employment, and environmental and social issues;
  • sectoral studies on the interface between Industry 4.0 and the Circular Economy; and
  • policy issues.

Dr. Celeste Varum
Dr. Ana Teresa Tavares-Lehmann
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Sustainability is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2400 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • Industry 4.0
  • Sustainability
  • Policy Issues
  • Innovation
  • Eco-Innovation

Published Papers (8 papers)

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Research

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17 pages, 1706 KiB  
Article
Intelligent Rework Process Management System under Smart Factory Environment
by Da-Seol Jo, Tae-Woong Kim and Jun-Woo Kim
Sustainability 2020, 12(23), 9883; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su12239883 - 26 Nov 2020
Cited by 7 | Viewed by 2899
Abstract
Rework for defective items is very common in practical shopfloors; however, it generally causes unnecessary energy consumptions and operational costs. In order to address this problem, we propose a novel approach called the intelligent rework process management (i-RPM) system. The proposed system is [...] Read more.
Rework for defective items is very common in practical shopfloors; however, it generally causes unnecessary energy consumptions and operational costs. In order to address this problem, we propose a novel approach called the intelligent rework process management (i-RPM) system. The proposed system is based on intelligent rework policy, which provides a preventive rework procedure for items with latent defects. Such items can be detected before quality tests by applying conventional classification techniques. Moreover, training sets for the classification algorithms can be collected by using modern information and communications technology (ICT) infrastructures. Items with latent defects are not allowed to proceed to the following processes under intelligent rework policy. Instead, they are returned to the preceding processes for rework in order to avoid unnecessary losses on the shopfloor. Consequently, the proposed system helps to achieve a sustainable manufacturing system. Nevertheless, misclassification by the classification model can degrade the performance of intelligent rework policy. Therefore, the i-RPM system is designed to compare rework policies based on classification accuracy and choose the best one of them. For illustration, we applied the i-RPM system to the rework procedure of a steel manufacturer located in Busan, South Korea, and our experiment results revealed that the cost reduction effect of the intelligent rework policy is affected by several input parameters. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Industry 4.0 and Industrial Sustainability)
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39 pages, 2969 KiB  
Article
Sustainable Industry 4.0 in Production and Operations Management: A Systematic Literature Review
by Andreas Felsberger and Gerald Reiner
Sustainability 2020, 12(19), 7982; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su12197982 - 26 Sep 2020
Cited by 55 | Viewed by 8586
Abstract
This study draws attention to the upcoming changes within sustainable value chains and manufacturing environments caused by the digital transformation. With a special focus on Industry 4.0 (I4.0), the presented study explores the scientific progress within this research field. A systematic literature review [...] Read more.
This study draws attention to the upcoming changes within sustainable value chains and manufacturing environments caused by the digital transformation. With a special focus on Industry 4.0 (I4.0), the presented study explores the scientific progress within this research field. A systematic literature review approach using a set of predefined keywords and with several exclusion criteria was adopted in order to identify the literature that is related to sustainability in I4.0 and its impact in the area of production and operations management (P&OM). A total of 89 papers from the period 2010–2020 were identified, which were then examined along the lines of the most influential journals, key topics of the selected literature, geographical distribution, and sustainability dimensions. The analysis was executed via bibliometric and text mapping tools, namely NVivo and BibExcel. Furthermore, a focus group discussion with experts from European semiconductor manufacturing companies and researchers from several academic institutions was conducted to derive practical insights. The results of this study will contribute to the evaluation of sustainable I4.0 innovations from the past 10 years. The key issues and research gaps identified in this article will provide a reference point to encourage and guide interested researchers for future studies, thus supporting both theoretical and practical progress in this research area. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Industry 4.0 and Industrial Sustainability)
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24 pages, 2591 KiB  
Article
The Use of Big Data for Sustainable Development in Motor Production Line Issues
by Yao-Chin Lin, Ching-Chuan Yeh, Wei-Hung Chen, Wei-Chun Liu and Jyun-Jie Wang
Sustainability 2020, 12(13), 5323; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su12135323 - 01 Jul 2020
Cited by 9 | Viewed by 2507
Abstract
This study explores big data gathered from motor production lines to gain a better understanding of production line issues. Motor products from Solen Electric Company’s motor production lines were used to predict failure points based on big data analytics, where 3606 datapoints from [...] Read more.
This study explores big data gathered from motor production lines to gain a better understanding of production line issues. Motor products from Solen Electric Company’s motor production lines were used to predict failure points based on big data analytics, where 3606 datapoints from the company’s testing equipment were statistically analyzed. The current study focused on secondary data and expert interview results to further define the relevant statistical dimensions. Only 14 of the original 88 detection parameters were required for monitoring the production line. The relationships between these parameters and the relevant motor components were established to indicate how an abnormal reading may be interpreted to quickly resolve an issue. Thus, a theoretical model for the monitoring of the motor production line was proposed. Further implications and practical suggestions are also offered to improve the production lines. This study explores big data analysis and smart manufacturing and demonstrates the promise of these technologies in improving production line efficiency and reducing waste to promote sustainable production goals. Big data thus constitute the core technology for advancing production lines into Industry 4.0 and promoting industry sustainability. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Industry 4.0 and Industrial Sustainability)
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15 pages, 2796 KiB  
Article
Development of an Assessment Method for Evaluation of Sustainable Factories
by Behrouz Pirouz, Natale Arcuri, Behzad Pirouz, Stefania Anna Palermo, Michele Turco and Mario Maiolo
Sustainability 2020, 12(5), 1841; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su12051841 - 29 Feb 2020
Cited by 21 | Viewed by 3233
Abstract
The role of the industrial sector in total greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and resource consumption is well-known, and many industrial activities may have a negative environmental impact. The solution to decreasing the negative effects cannot be effective without the consideration of sustainable development. [...] Read more.
The role of the industrial sector in total greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and resource consumption is well-known, and many industrial activities may have a negative environmental impact. The solution to decreasing the negative effects cannot be effective without the consideration of sustainable development. There are several methods for sustainability evaluation, such as tools based on products, processes, or plants besides supply chain or life cycle analysis, and there are different rating systems suggesting 80, 140, or more indicators for assessment. The critical point is the limits such as required techniques and budget in using all indicators for all factories in the beginning. Moreover, the weight of each indicator might change based on the selected alternative that it is not a fixed value and could change in a new case study. In this regard, to determine the impact and weight of different indicators in sustainable factories, a multi-layer Triangular Fuzzy Analytic Hierarchy Process (TFAHP) approach was developed, and the application of the method was described and verified. The defined layers are six; for each layer, the pairwise comparison matrix was developed, and the total aggregated score concerning the sustainability goal for each alternative was calculated that shows the Relative Importance Coefficient (RIC). The method is formulated in a way that allows adding the new indicators in all layers as the verification shows, and thus, there are no limits for using any green rating systems. Therefore, the presented approach by TFAHP would provide an additional tool toward the sustainable development of factories. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Industry 4.0 and Industrial Sustainability)
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15 pages, 2429 KiB  
Article
An Innovative Industry 4.0 Cloud Data Transfer Method for an Automated Waste Collection System
by Costel Emil Cotet, Gicu Calin Deac, Crina Narcisa Deac and Cicerone Laurentiu Popa
Sustainability 2020, 12(5), 1839; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su12051839 - 29 Feb 2020
Cited by 19 | Viewed by 3052
Abstract
Moving to Industry 4.0 involves the collection of massive amounts of data and the development of big data applications that can ensure a quick data flow between different systems, including massive amounts of data and information collection from smart sensors, and sending them [...] Read more.
Moving to Industry 4.0 involves the collection of massive amounts of data and the development of big data applications that can ensure a quick data flow between different systems, including massive amounts of data and information collection from smart sensors, and sending them to cloud applications that allow real-time data monitoring and processing. Securing and protecting the transmitted data represents a big issue to be discussed and resolved. In the paper, we propose a new method of data encoding and encryption for cloud applications using PNG format images. The proposed method is described in comparison with one of the classical methods of data encoding and transmission used currently. The paper includes a case study in which the proposed method was used to collect and transmit data from an automated waste collection system. The results show that the proposed method represents a secure, fast and efficient way to send and store the data in the cloud compared to the methods currently used. The proposed method is not limited to being used only in waste management but can be used successfully for any type of manufacturing system from smart factories. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Industry 4.0 and Industrial Sustainability)
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18 pages, 1246 KiB  
Article
A Study on the Relationship between Paradox Cognition, Green Industrial Production, and Corporate Performance
by Yi Gao, Zhiguo Li and Kashif Khan
Sustainability 2019, 11(23), 6588; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su11236588 - 21 Nov 2019
Cited by 12 | Viewed by 2877
Abstract
Based on the theory of paradox cognition, a relationship model among paradox cognition, industrial green production, and enterprise performance has been constructed, which mainly focuses on a study on whether the paradox cognition can have positive influences on the green production behavior of [...] Read more.
Based on the theory of paradox cognition, a relationship model among paradox cognition, industrial green production, and enterprise performance has been constructed, which mainly focuses on a study on whether the paradox cognition can have positive influences on the green production behavior of industrial enterprises, and then further promote the improvement of enterprises’ economic benefits. The author wrote this thesis on the basis of results obtained from 305 sample surveys and verified the direct and indirect influence relationships among variables in the model with structural equation path coefficient and mediation effect. The empirical results show that: firstly, paradox cognition has a positive and significant impact on the industrial green production behavior. The higher the level of paradox cognition, the more likely the enterprises are to implement the industrial green production behavior. Secondly, paradox cognition can improve the potential performance of enterprises by affecting “green product provision”, “green production management”, and “green production technology”, and then indirectly improve the financial performance of enterprises. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Industry 4.0 and Industrial Sustainability)
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Review

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15 pages, 15916 KiB  
Review
Industry 4.0 and Sustainability: A Bibliometric Literature Review
by Ana Teresa Tavares-Lehmann and Celeste Varum
Sustainability 2021, 13(6), 3493; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su13063493 - 22 Mar 2021
Cited by 21 | Viewed by 3314
Abstract
Industry 4.0 (I4.0), Sustainability, and the Circular Economy are recently popularized concepts likely to redefine how economies and industries work. This paper, as the opening piece of this Special Issue, consists of a bibliometric study of 393 articles linking the Issue’s key themes: [...] Read more.
Industry 4.0 (I4.0), Sustainability, and the Circular Economy are recently popularized concepts likely to redefine how economies and industries work. This paper, as the opening piece of this Special Issue, consists of a bibliometric study of 393 articles linking the Issue’s key themes: Industry 4.0, Sustainability and the Circular Economy. Given that this is still a recent area of the literature, and the fact that it already commands a fast-growing number of publications, the provision of an updated overview of the relevant scientific production in the field is a relevant contribution. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Industry 4.0 and Industrial Sustainability)
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21 pages, 6181 KiB  
Review
Investigating the Impact of Energy Source Level on the Self-Guided Vehicle System Performances, in the Industry 4.0 Context
by Massinissa Graba, Sousso Kelouwani, Lotfi Zeghmi, Ali Amamou, Kodjo Agbossou and Mohammad Mohammadpour
Sustainability 2020, 12(20), 8541; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su12208541 - 15 Oct 2020
Cited by 9 | Viewed by 2508
Abstract
Automated industrial vehicles are taking an imposing place by transforming the industrial operations, and contributing to an efficient in-house transportation of goods. They are expected to bring a variety of benefits towards the Industry 4.0 transition. However, Self-Guided Vehicles (SGVs) are battery-powered, unmanned [...] Read more.
Automated industrial vehicles are taking an imposing place by transforming the industrial operations, and contributing to an efficient in-house transportation of goods. They are expected to bring a variety of benefits towards the Industry 4.0 transition. However, Self-Guided Vehicles (SGVs) are battery-powered, unmanned autonomous vehicles. While the operating durability depends on self-path design, planning energy-efficient paths become crucial. Thus, this paper has no concrete contribution but highlights the lack of energy consideration of SGV-system design in literature by presenting a review of energy-constrained global path planning. Then, an experimental investigation explores the long-term effect of battery level on navigation performance of a single vehicle. This experiment was conducted for several hours, a deviation between the global trajectory and the ground-true path executed by the SGV was observed as the battery depleted. The results show that the mean square error (MSE) increases significantly as the battery’s state-of-charge decreases below a certain value. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Industry 4.0 and Industrial Sustainability)
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