Smart, Sustainable, and Circular Manufacturing: From Digitalization to Green Innovation and Systemic Transitions
A special issue of Processes (ISSN 2227-9717). This special issue belongs to the section "Manufacturing Processes and Systems".
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 20 April 2026 | Viewed by 59
Special Issue Editors
Interests: smart manufacturing; additive manufacturing; industry 4.0
Interests: machining; non-traditional machining; sustainability; industry 4; electrical discharge machining; ultrasonic assisted vibration drilling
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
The global manufacturing sector stands at a pivotal crossroads, facing immense pressure to enhance operational efficiency and productivity while simultaneously mitigating its significant environmental footprint. Traditional linear models of "take-make-dispose" are no longer viable in an era of resource scarcity, decarbonization imperatives, and stringent climate goals. In response, a profound transformation is underway, driven by the convergence of advanced digital technologies, sustainability principles, and circular economy strategies.
This convergence is redefining the future of manufacturing. By integrating the technological advancements of the Fourth Industrial Revolution—such as artificial intelligence, digital twins, and big data—with the imperatives of green innovation and systemic transitions, a new paradigm has emerged. In this paradigm, smart manufacturing—powered by data, connectivity, and intelligence—becomes the key to achieving truly sustainable manufacturing and closed-loop, circular manufacturing systems. Together, these dimensions promote resilient, adaptive, and future-ready industrial ecosystems that balance competitiveness with environmental stewardship.
This Special Issue, entitled “Smart, Sustainable, and Circular Manufacturing: From Digitalization to Green Innovation and Systemic Transitions”, seeks to explore this critical intersection, highlighting innovative research and practices that leverage cutting-edge technologies to create manufacturing processes that are not only more competitive but also regenerative and restorative by design. The scope of this Special Issue includes, but is not limited to, the following topics:
- The application of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and machine learning for optimizing resource efficiency and process control.
- The role of Big Data analytics in lifecycle assessment, predictive maintenance, and supply chain transparency.
- The development and implementation of Digital Twins for real-time process simulation, optimization, and waste mitigation.
- Real-time monitoring systems for energy and resource consumption, quality control, and CO2 emissions tracking.
- AI-driven strategies for energy conservation and integration of renewable energy sources in smart factories.
- The application of smart technologies (e.g., IoT, AI, digital twins) to enable circular processes such as remanufacturing, recycling, and zero-waste production.
- Engineering frameworks and life-cycle assessment (LCA) methodologies for quantifying and reducing the environmental footprint of smart manufacturing systems.
- Technical case studies demonstrating the integration of smart technologies and circular economy principles, highlighting engineering solutions and their measurable environmental benefits.
Dr. Ibrahim Abdelfadeel Shaban
Dr. Ibrahim Khaled Hamdy Mohamed
Dr. Wenzheng Zhai
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. Processes is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly 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
- smart manufacturing
- sustainable manufacturing
- realtime monitoring
- digital twin
- artificial intelligence
- circular economy
- waste mitigation
- energy conservation
- CO2 emissions
- environmental impact
- social impact
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