Sustainable Manufacturing for a Better Future

Special Issue Editor


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Guest Editor
Department of Engineering, Faculty of Environment, Science and Economy, The University of Exeter, Exeter EX4 4RJ, UK
Interests: 3D/4D printing; additive manufacturing; smart manufacturing
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Many countries, including major economies like the European Union, the United Kingdom, Japan, and South Korea, have committed to reaching net-zero emissions by 2050 or earlier. In recent years, manufacturing has rapidly developed with the continued advancement of artificial intelligence and big data techniques. By integrating these emerging technologies, manufacturing can become even smarter, resulting in numerous opportunities for enhancing sustainability and efficiency. In this Special Issue, the aim is to bring together diverse researchers into a common forum, exploring how big data, machine learning, digital twin or other new techniques could contribute to the advancement of sustainable manufacturing, thus creating a better future.

This Special Issue welcomes papers on the following themes:

  • Big data, machine learning and/or digital twin-aided sustainable traditional manufacturing, additive manufacturing, hybrid manufacturing or other novel manufacturing processes.
  • Sustainable additive manufacturing, hybrid manufacturing or other novel manufacturing process developments.

All types of papers are welcome.

Dr. Jingchao Jiang
Guest Editor

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. Journal of Manufacturing and Materials Processing 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 1800 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

  • big data
  • machine learning
  • digital twin
  • sustainable manufacturing
  • novel manufacturing processes

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Published Papers (4 papers)

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Research

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36 pages, 5234 KiB  
Article
Evaluating Energy Efficiency and Optimal Positioning of Industrial Robots in Sustainable Manufacturing
by Roman Ruzarovsky, Tibor Horak and Robert Bocak
J. Manuf. Mater. Process. 2024, 8(6), 276; https://doi.org/10.3390/jmmp8060276 - 1 Dec 2024
Viewed by 493
Abstract
Optimizing the energy efficiency of robotic workstations is a key aspect of industrial automation. This study focuses on the analysis of the relationship between the position of the robot base and its energy consumption and time aspects. A number of 6-axis robots, including [...] Read more.
Optimizing the energy efficiency of robotic workstations is a key aspect of industrial automation. This study focuses on the analysis of the relationship between the position of the robot base and its energy consumption and time aspects. A number of 6-axis robots, including the ABB IRB 120 robot, were investigated in this research by combining measurements and simulations using the energy consumption measurement module in the ABB RobotStudio 2024.1.1 environment. The objective of this study was to develop an energy consumption model that can identify the optimal robot positions to minimize energy costs and time losses. The results suggest that the strategic positioning of the robot has a significant impact on its performance and efficiency. These results demonstrate that the ideal working distance of the robots is approximately 50% of its maximum range, and displacements along the X and Z axes affect the energy and time consumption. These findings suggest the existence of a trade-off between time and energy efficiency, providing a basis for further research into the optimization of robotic systems. Thus, this work offers new perspectives for the design of efficient robotic workstations for cross-sensory applications. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Manufacturing for a Better Future)
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29 pages, 6590 KiB  
Article
Theoretical Assessment of the Environmental Impact of the Preheating Stage in Thermoplastic Composite Processing: A Step toward Sustainable Manufacturing
by Abbas Hosseini
J. Manuf. Mater. Process. 2024, 8(3), 120; https://doi.org/10.3390/jmmp8030120 - 7 Jun 2024
Viewed by 1299
Abstract
Manufacturing processes have always played a pivotal role in the life cycle assessment of products, necessitating focused efforts to minimize their impact on the environment. Thermoplastic composite manufacturing is no exception to this concern. Within thermoplastic composite manufacturing, the preheating process stands out [...] Read more.
Manufacturing processes have always played a pivotal role in the life cycle assessment of products, necessitating focused efforts to minimize their impact on the environment. Thermoplastic composite manufacturing is no exception to this concern. Within thermoplastic composite manufacturing, the preheating process stands out as one of the most energy-intensive stages, significantly affecting the environment. In this study, a theoretical analysis is conducted to compare three modes of preheating: conductive, radiative, and convective modes, considering their energy consumption and environmental impact. The analysis reveals the potential for substantial energy savings and emissions reduction through the selection of a proper preheating mode. Since the analysis used in this study is theoretical, it facilitates a parametric study of different modes of preheating to assess how process parameters impact the environment. Moreover, this study includes a comparison between emissions from material production and the preheating process, highlighting the substantial contribution of the preheating process to the overall product life cycle assessment. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Manufacturing for a Better Future)
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30 pages, 8620 KiB  
Article
Machine Learning Algorithm to Predict CO2 Using a Cement Manufacturing Historic Production Variables Dataset: A Case Study at Union Bridge Plant, Heidelberg Materials, Maryland
by Kwaku Boakye, Kevin Fenton and Steve Simske
J. Manuf. Mater. Process. 2023, 7(6), 199; https://doi.org/10.3390/jmmp7060199 - 8 Nov 2023
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 4021
Abstract
This study uses machine learning methods to model different stages of the calcination process in cement, with the goal of improving knowledge of the generation of CO2 during cement manufacturing. Calcination is necessary to determine the clinker quality, energy needs, and CO [...] Read more.
This study uses machine learning methods to model different stages of the calcination process in cement, with the goal of improving knowledge of the generation of CO2 during cement manufacturing. Calcination is necessary to determine the clinker quality, energy needs, and CO2 emissions in a cement-producing facility. Due to the intricacy of the calcination process, it has historically been challenging to precisely anticipate the CO2 produced. The purpose of this study is to determine a direct association between CO2 generation from the manufacture of raw materials and the process factors. In this paper, six machine learning techniques are investigated to explore two output variables: (1) the apparent degree of oxidation, and (2) the apparent degree of calcination. CO2 molecular composition (dry basis) sensitivity analysis uses over 6000 historical manufacturing health data points as input variables, and the results are used to train the algorithms. The Root Mean Squared Error (RMSE) of various regression models is examined, and the models are then run to ascertain which independent variables in cement manufacturing had the largest impact on the dependent variables. To establish which independent variable has the biggest impact on CO2 emissions, the significance of the other factors is also assessed. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Manufacturing for a Better Future)
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Review

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28 pages, 1690 KiB  
Review
Application of Microwave Energy to Biomass: A Comprehensive Review of Microwave-Assisted Technologies, Optimization Parameters, and the Strengths and Weaknesses
by Alejandra Sophia Lozano Pérez, Juan José Lozada Castro and Carlos Alberto Guerrero Fajardo
J. Manuf. Mater. Process. 2024, 8(3), 121; https://doi.org/10.3390/jmmp8030121 - 7 Jun 2024
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2765
Abstract
This review article focuses on the application of microwave-assisted techniques in various processes, including microwave-assisted extraction, microwave-assisted pyrolysis, microwave-assisted acid hydrolysis, microwave-assisted organosolv, and microwave-assisted hydrothermal pretreatment. This article discusses the mechanisms behind these techniques and their potential for increasing yield, producing more [...] Read more.
This review article focuses on the application of microwave-assisted techniques in various processes, including microwave-assisted extraction, microwave-assisted pyrolysis, microwave-assisted acid hydrolysis, microwave-assisted organosolv, and microwave-assisted hydrothermal pretreatment. This article discusses the mechanisms behind these techniques and their potential for increasing yield, producing more selectivity, and lowering reaction times while reducing energy usage. It also highlights the advantages and disadvantages of each process and emphasizes the need for further research to scale the processes and optimize conditions for industrial applications. A specific case study is presented on the pretreatment of coffee waste, demonstrating how the choice of microwave-assisted processes can lead to different by-products depending on the initial composition of the biomass. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Manufacturing for a Better Future)
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