Measuring the Implications of Sustainable Manufacturing in the Context of Industry 4.0

Larisa Ivascu

doi:10.3390/pr8050585

Abstract

Sustainability is increasingly being addressed globally. The manufacturing industry faces various constraints and opportunities related to sustainable development. Currently, there are few methodological frameworks for evaluating sustainable organizational development. Assessing and improving organizational capacity is important for producers and researchers in the field and local, national, and international authorities. This research proposes a hierarchical framework for sustainability assessment of manufacturing industry in Romania. The proposed framework integrates performance elements and measures to improve all the processes and activities from the triple perspective of sustainability. Sustainability assessment captures the entire supply chain of the organization, including stakeholder interests and end-of-life directions for products. To establish the elements to be integrated in the development of the proposed framework, market research (online questionnaire-for the characterization of Industry 4.0) and the Delphi method were used to identify the categories of performance indicators that must be measured to identify organizational capacity for sustainable development. The framework was tested by an automotive manufacturing organization. A number of improvements have been identified that relate to Industry 4.0 facilities and the application of the facilities related to recovering the value of the product at the end of its life cycle. This hierarchical framework can be customized in detail for the specific of each organization and can be adapted in other industries, including banking, retail, and other services. It can be observed that waste management and the interests of the stakeholders are major implications that must be measured and properly motivated.

Highlights

Sustainability and sustainable development as concepts have gone through different development stages since their introduction
To establish the elements to be integrated in the development of the proposed framework, market research and the Delphi method were used to identify the categories of performance indicators that must be measured to identify organizational capacity for sustainable development
Industry 4.0. includes the tendency of companies toward automation and data exchange in technologies and manufacturing processes that include cyber-physical systems (CPS), the Internet of Things (IoT), the Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT), cloud computing, cognitive computing and artificial intelligence, and other implications related to these fields [44,45,46,47,48,49,50,51]

Summary

Introduction

Sustainability and sustainable development as concepts have gone through different development stages since their introduction. The historical development of the concept has been carried out at various conferences and within organizations and institutions, which are currently concerned with the implementation of the principles, targets, and objectives of sustainable development [1]. The concept of sustainable development has encounter over time different criticisms and interpretations, being accepted in different fields of activity. The concept of sustainable development, throughout its evolution, has adapted to environmental and technological requirements, but the heart, principles, directions, and objectives have been preserved and are still present. The objectives of sustainable development are contained in the 2030 Agenda. The objectives of this agenda contribute to the survival on the planet and to the increase of the standard of living [1,2]

Methods

Results

Discussion

Conclusion