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Sustainable, Resilient and Smart Manufacturing Systems

A special issue of Sustainability (ISSN 2071-1050). This special issue belongs to the section "Sustainable Management".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 January 2025) | Viewed by 26188

Special Issue Editor


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Guest Editor
Department of Civil and Mechanical Engineering (DICEM), University of Cassino and Southern Lazio, 03043 Cassino, Italy
Interests: manufacturing systems; risk analysis; safety engineering; optimization methods; industrial engineering; scheduling; production; logistics; reliability analysis; lean manufacturing and quality management; LCA
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Modern manufacturing systems are continuously facing many challenges that require innovative solutions in order to make them smart, resilient, and sustainable. It is important to identify best practices in order to achieve and spread those new solutions in design and operations. This Special Issue will be focused on smart interventions, resilient strategies, and sustainable proposals for future companies with advanced manufacturing systems. To make factories smart, resilient, and sustainable, a multi-, inter-, and transdisciplinary approach is necessary that crosses the boundaries of data and information science, process and product design, manufacturing, and production engineering.

Relevant topics concern energy; materials; tools, equipment and devices; machinery; process modeling and digitization; measurement and control systems; and “intelligent” technologies of Industry 4.0 towards “human-centric” innovations of Industry 5.0.

Original research, technical surveys, and reviews dealing with (but not limited to) the themes listed hereunder are highly encouraged for submission:

  • Modeling for resilient manufacturing systems and supply chains;
  • Cyber-physical system (CPS) and infrastructure;
  • Automation, robotization, digital transformation, advanced sensors, real-time big data analytics, Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT), artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning;
  • Cyber security for smart manufacturing systems;
  • Man–machine interface and human factors;
  • Life cycle engineering and resource optimization;
  • Energy and materials for sustainable manufacturing processes;
  • Advanced machine tools for monitoring, control, prediction and optimization;
  • Performance indicators and computing.

I look forward to receiving your contributions.

Prof. Alessandro Silvestri
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. 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

  • process modeling
  • optimization
  • performance
  • optimization
  • transformation
  • intelligent technologies
  • human-centric
  • Industry 4.0
  • Industry 5.0

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Published Papers (5 papers)

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Research

31 pages, 5714 KiB  
Article
A Study on the Emergence and Resilience of Integrated Management Systems in Organizations with an Industrial Profile in Romania
by Lucian Ispas, Costel Mironeasa and Alessandro Silvestri
Sustainability 2025, 17(6), 2401; https://doi.org/10.3390/su17062401 - 10 Mar 2025
Viewed by 1187
Abstract
This paper aims to highlight the specific elements regarding emergence and resilience in implementing integrated management systems (IMSs) in organizations with an industrial profile in Romania. The purpose of the research was to carry out an extensive study in the industrial field to [...] Read more.
This paper aims to highlight the specific elements regarding emergence and resilience in implementing integrated management systems (IMSs) in organizations with an industrial profile in Romania. The purpose of the research was to carry out an extensive study in the industrial field to identify key elements in the implementation of IMSs, considering the identification and analysis of those elements that can generate risks (emerging elements) as well as the identification and analysis of components that can be used to intervene quickly in the event of the manifestation of risks and that may produce unexpected disturbances (resilient management). A quantitative survey distributed to 147 managers of an industrial organization that has a minimum of two integrated management systems was used for data collection. The present study highlights the opinions of the managers from Romanian industrial enterprises regarding the elements that contribute when implementing an integrated management system. For this purpose, the survey focused on the following main topics: the advantages achieved from the integration, the internal and external barriers encountered, the strategies followed for integration, the risks that occurred, some of the internal and external performance indicators (KPIs) that guide the organization, the elements that are not susceptible to integration, the integration model used, the audit typology, the documents that are needed and the main aspects improved after implementing the integrated management system. The information obtained from the study outlined several themes that management should consider in order to obtain a framework for integration guidance. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable, Resilient and Smart Manufacturing Systems)
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39 pages, 8025 KiB  
Article
The Integration of Advanced Mechatronic Systems into Industry 4.0 for Smart Manufacturing
by Mutaz Ryalat, Enrico Franco, Hisham Elmoaqet, Natheer Almtireen and Ghaith Al-Refai
Sustainability 2024, 16(19), 8504; https://doi.org/10.3390/su16198504 - 29 Sep 2024
Cited by 11 | Viewed by 13223
Abstract
In recent years, the rapid advancement of digital technologies has driven a profound transformation in both individual lives and business operations. The integration of Industry 4.0 with advanced mechatronic systems is at the forefront of this digital transformation, reshaping the landscape of smart [...] Read more.
In recent years, the rapid advancement of digital technologies has driven a profound transformation in both individual lives and business operations. The integration of Industry 4.0 with advanced mechatronic systems is at the forefront of this digital transformation, reshaping the landscape of smart manufacturing. This article explores the convergence of digital technologies and physical systems, with a focus on the critical role of mechatronics in enabling this transformation. Using technologies such as advanced robotics, the Internet of Things (IoT), artificial intelligence (AI), and big data analytics, industries are developing intelligent and interconnected systems capable of real-time data exchange, distributed decision making, and automation. The paper further explores two case studies: one on a smart plastic injection moulding machine and another on soft robots. These examples illustrate the synergies, benefits, challenges, and future potential of integrating mechatronics with Industry 4.0 technologies. Ultimately, this convergence fosters the development of smart factories and products, enhancing manufacturing efficiency, adaptability, and productivity, while also contributing to sustainability by reducing waste, optimising resource usage, and lowering the environmental impact of industrial production. This marks a significant shift in industrial production towards more sustainable practices. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable, Resilient and Smart Manufacturing Systems)
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20 pages, 3383 KiB  
Article
Manufacturing Execution System Application within Manufacturing Small–Medium Enterprises towards Key Performance Indicators Development and Their Implementation in the Production Line
by Augusto Bianchini, Ivan Savini, Alessandro Andreoni, Matteo Morolli and Valentino Solfrini
Sustainability 2024, 16(7), 2974; https://doi.org/10.3390/su16072974 - 3 Apr 2024
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 4379
Abstract
This paper explores the importance of smart manufacturing in the context of Industry 4.0, highlighting the crucial role of Manufacturing Execution Systems (MESs) in facilitating Industry 4.0, particularly in data capture and process management. It is worth noting that Small and Medium Enterprises [...] Read more.
This paper explores the importance of smart manufacturing in the context of Industry 4.0, highlighting the crucial role of Manufacturing Execution Systems (MESs) in facilitating Industry 4.0, particularly in data capture and process management. It is worth noting that Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) face several obstacles, unlike large companies that have the resources to adopt these principles. This text explores the challenges that SMEs encounter when adopting Industry 4.0, considering budget constraints and technology transfer difficulties. The potential benefits of such projects are often difficult to measure during the initial stages, but they can facilitate the digital transformation of small businesses. To support this thesis, this paper presents an example of MES implementation in a manufacturing SME, showcasing the creation of a comprehensive data monitoring and industrial performance assessment system. This paper aims to introduce a systematic approach for integrating a Key Performance Indicator (KPI) framework using MESs within an SME. This paper highlights the importance of transitioning from big data to smart data to achieve outcomes in terms of operational efficiency, cost analysis, workload management, resource utilisation, knowledge dissemination, and enhanced operator engagement. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable, Resilient and Smart Manufacturing Systems)
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16 pages, 3897 KiB  
Article
An Industry 5.0 Perspective on Feeding Production Lines
by Michele Chivilò and Antonella Meneghetti
Sustainability 2023, 15(22), 16088; https://doi.org/10.3390/su152216088 - 19 Nov 2023
Cited by 5 | Viewed by 2647
Abstract
The emerging concept of Industry 5.0 is fostering companies to consider the three pillars of human-centricity, sustainability, and resilience. How such a new perspective can be effectively declined and practically guide the introduction of new technologies is a challenge to be addressed. This [...] Read more.
The emerging concept of Industry 5.0 is fostering companies to consider the three pillars of human-centricity, sustainability, and resilience. How such a new perspective can be effectively declined and practically guide the introduction of new technologies is a challenge to be addressed. This study proposes a framework to support companies when introducing new solutions to feed production lines by adopting an Industry 5.0 perspective. For each fundamental pillar, critical points to focus on have been highlighted and operational checklists have been developed to effectively support the analysis and implementation of new solutions. The application of the framework and related operational checklists to a case study regarding the integration of an Autonomous Mobile Robot system has proved its validity. Following the human-centricity checklist, full acceptance of the new technology by workers has been gained, together with a safer workplace. Energy savings for material handling and recycling have been supported about the sustainability pillar, while redundancy and backup systems have increased the resilience of the feeding system. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable, Resilient and Smart Manufacturing Systems)
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16 pages, 692 KiB  
Article
Examining the Impact of Internationalization and Competitive Advantages on Enterprise Performance in Taiwan’s Computer Numerical Control Machine Industry
by Hsing-Kuo Liao, Chin-Wen Liao, Cheng-Chi Chen and Tzu-Wen Chen
Sustainability 2023, 15(21), 15652; https://doi.org/10.3390/su152115652 - 6 Nov 2023
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 3731
Abstract
An enterprise must have good operating performance to operate continuously. A good company itself must have a good management team and a large enough market to operate. Taiwan is located in East Asia, and has neighboring countries, such as Japan, South Korea, and [...] Read more.
An enterprise must have good operating performance to operate continuously. A good company itself must have a good management team and a large enough market to operate. Taiwan is located in East Asia, and has neighboring countries, such as Japan, South Korea, and the Philippines. Taiwan’s machine tools industry cannot be developed on a large scale due to the geographical environment and land area restrictions. Enterprises are constrained by the external environment, which includes economic cycles, raw materials supply, user demand, and other factors that influence their performance. This is the primary challenge currently faced by Taiwan’s CNC industry. According to relevant research, companies can utilize various strategic models to identify operational shortcomings from the perspective of their employees, in order to enhance business performance. Therefore, Taiwan’s machine tool industry has to be extended to a larger scale. In the international market, only by exporting products and, then, taking full advantage of higher-quality capabilities, can we create good corporate performance. Therefore, internationalization is an important factor for Taiwan’s companies to improve their operating performance. This article uses Taiwan’s machine tools industry to explore the impact of factors, such as international perspectives and competitive advantages, on operating performance; this study selects 62 companies as a sample, the period is 2022. and analyzes the data type using class regression. The empirical results show that in the initial stage of internationalization, internationalization and competitive advantages help companies improve their operating performance. The industrial environment has a positive regulatory effect on internationalization and enterprise performance. However, when the company reaches the stage of internationalization, its operating performance begins to decline. Therefore, companies must recognize their own operating capabilities and create a more favorable operating performance under internationalized strategies. The important factor is that only through continuous innovation can companies gain an advantage in their long-term operations. With the advent of the era of Industry 4.0, industry knowledge is highly intensive and competition within the international environment is fierce. Companies should plan for a long-term competitive advantage to improve enterprise performance. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable, Resilient and Smart Manufacturing Systems)
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