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Smart Manufacturing and Lean Sustainability in the Era of Industry 4.0

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

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (18 October 2024) | Viewed by 6809

Special Issue Editor


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Guest Editor
Department of Industrial and systems Engineering, Chung Yuan Christian University, Taoyuan City, Taiwan
Interests: quality control for smart manufacturing; Industry 4.0; ESG and sustainability; lean production; total quality management
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The rapid developments of Industry 4.0 and artificial intelligence (AI) lead industries into the age of smart manufacturing. The backbones of smart manufacturing development are powerful ICT (information and communications technology), IT-integrated automation systems, and new technologies such as CPS (cyber–physical system), IoT (Internet of Things), cloud computing, big data, AI (artificial intelligence), etc. It is becoming increasingly common for manufacturers to accelerate the development of smart manufacturing or intelligent manufacturing.

Meanwhile, the development and realization of sustainability are also enthusiastically promoted. Sustainability is the process of maintaining change in a balanced environment, in which the exploitation of resources, the economic development, the technological development and the business model are all in harmony and enhance both current and future potential to meet human needs and aspirations. Sustainability is evaluated through the following interconnected domains : environment, economic and social. Critical green activities include the effective usage of natural resources, green products, green processes, green logistics, waste reduction and recycling, energy saving and the usage of green energy, emission reduction and pollution prevention.

Lean production has received a great deal of attention for many years as a consequence of the many advantages and financial benefits that have become apparent as a result of the system’s implementation in many industries. According to many critical studies, lean production is the fundamental way forward for smart manufacturing and sustainability. It is therefore clear that the industries need to successfully implement lean production, in order to realize the development of smart manufacturing and sustainability.

In this Special Issue, contributions are welcome on the following topics:

  1. The development of Industry 4.0;
  2. From Industry 4.0 to smart manufacturing;
  3. The development of smart manufacturing;
  4. The critical success factors of smart manufacturing;
  5. The implementation of smart manufacturing based on lean production;
  6. The quality control of smart manufacturing;
  7. How to successfully implement sustainability based on the realization of lean production;
  8. The critical practices of smart manufacturing;
  9. The relations between smart manufacturing and sustainability;
  10. The implementation of sustainability;
  11. The critical success factors of the implementation of sustainability;
  12. The critical practices of the implementation of sustainability;
  13. The competitive advantages of smart manufacturing;
  14. The advantages and financial benefits of the implementation of sustainability.

Dr. Ching-Chow Yang
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

  • Industry 4.0
  • smart manufacturing
  • sustainability
  • lean production
  • smart quality control
  • critical success factors
  • Toyota production system (TPS)
  • artificial intelligence (AI)

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Published Papers (2 papers)

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Research

18 pages, 2302 KiB  
Article
A Process Analysis Framework to Adopt Intelligent Robotic Process Automation (IRPA) in Supply Chains
by Sandali Waduge, Ranil Sugathadasa, Ashani Piyatilake and Samudaya Nanayakkara
Sustainability 2024, 16(22), 9753; https://doi.org/10.3390/su16229753 - 8 Nov 2024
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 3673
Abstract
Intelligent Robotic Process Automation (IRPA) combines Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Robotic Process Automation (RPA) to automate complex unstructured tasks, improve decision-making, and cope with changing scenarios. A process analysis framework for IRPA adoption was developed by identifying key factors through a literature review [...] Read more.
Intelligent Robotic Process Automation (IRPA) combines Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Robotic Process Automation (RPA) to automate complex unstructured tasks, improve decision-making, and cope with changing scenarios. A process analysis framework for IRPA adoption was developed by identifying key factors through a literature review and semi-structured expert opinion survey. The employed experts in the survey comprised RPA/IRPA consultants, RPA/IRPA initiative team leaders, and RPA/IRPA developers with three years or more experience. For the initial factor collection phase, there were a total of eighteen (18) responses, and for the factor evaluation phase, a total of twenty-six (26) experts were used to collect responses. Identified factors were shortlisted and evaluated using a Relative Importance Index (RII) analysis. The study’s findings are presented through a Causal-Loop Diagram (CLD) to illustrate the relationships between factors. The framework provides practical guidance for organizations planning to adopt IRPA, informing decision-making, resource allocation, and strategy development. The final process analysis framework highlights the importance of accuracy, level of human involvement in a task, and standardization as the main three primary factors for successful IRPA adoption. Three major secondary factors were identified: digital data input, integration with existing systems, and the cost of adopting new technologies. This research contributes to the added value to existing knowledge and serves as a foundation for future research in IRPA adoption. Full article
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25 pages, 1679 KiB  
Article
Industrial Sustainable Development: The Development Trend of Programmable Logic Controller Technology
by Kai-Chao Yao, Cheng-Lung Lin and Chih-Hsuan Pan
Sustainability 2024, 16(14), 6230; https://doi.org/10.3390/su16146230 - 21 Jul 2024
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 2427
Abstract
Programmable Logic Controllers (PLCs) are indispensable for current and future industrial development, especially in smart factories, smart home technology, automated production lines, and machinery manufacturing. This study presents the trends in PLC software and hardware development through a technology roadmap and offers relevant [...] Read more.
Programmable Logic Controllers (PLCs) are indispensable for current and future industrial development, especially in smart factories, smart home technology, automated production lines, and machinery manufacturing. This study presents the trends in PLC software and hardware development through a technology roadmap and offers relevant suggestions to help industries achieve sustainable development, enhance market competitiveness, and provide references for research. Through expert interviews and fuzzy Delphi analysis, this study points out that future PLC development needs to focus on editing interfaces, syntax, Central Processing Units, Memory Units, and Communication Modules. Specific recommendations include visualizing regional/global label settings and connection settings, adding Python, JAVA, LabVIEW, and Scratch syntax, improving instruction execution speed, expanding program and expansion capacities, and adopting dual-channel Ethernet and connections to external networks and wireless networks. Fuzzy hierarchical analysis shows that Communication Modules are the most important component, followed by Central Processing Units and syntax expansion, and, finally, program and expansion capacity enhancements. These suggestions aim to promote product innovation and social environment demand evaluation, enhance product competitiveness, and achieve sustainable development goals. Full article
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