Smart Factory, Industry 4.0 and Sustainability

Dear Colleagues, 

As data become easier and cheaper to collect, organizations have begun phasing out paper-based systems in favor of digital information. However, while data collection is now commonplace, data availability does not always translate into actionable information. Thus, in this context, Industry 4.0 is a driver towards developing future manufacturing systems. Smart sensing,Industrial Internet of the Things (IIoT) and the usage of artificial intelligence, together with others advanced data processing techniques, are starting to exert a large impact in all the industrial applications. Simultaneously, the rapid adoption of IoT devices culminates in huge amounts of raw data, requiring the use of big data analytics tools to extract the right information from smart sensors and actuators.  

Machine learning and artificial intelligence (AI) techniques allow researchers to enhance decision support in all processes and to create new opportunities for industrial organizations, reducing significantly costs while improving efficiency and performance. Moreover, Industry 4.0 will have a huge impact on the environment, conserving energy, resources and reducing carbon emissions, and thus contributing significantly and positively to the sustainability desideratum.

In this context, the guest editor of this Special issue invites academic researchers and the industrial community in general to submit contributions related to the topics that are linked to the set of keywords referred to below.

In this Special Issue, original research articles and reviews are welcome. Research areas may include (but are not limited to) the following: smart sensors; smart factories; Industrial Internet of the Things (IIoT); Industry 4.0; condition-based maintenance; machine learning and deep learning; artificial neural networks and neuro-fuzzy models in industrial applications: artificial intelligence (AI) and industrial applications; big data analytics; and sustainability. 

We look forward to receiving your contributions.

Dr. José Miguel Costa Dias Pereira
Dr. Vítor Viegas
Guest Editors

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• smart factory
• Industry 4.0
• sustainability