Collaborative approaches in sustainable and resilient manufacturing

Abstract

In recent years, the manufacturing sector is going through a major transformation, as reflected in the concept of Industry 4.0 and digital transformation. The urge for such transformation is intensified when we consider the growing societal demands for sustainability. The notion of sustainable manufacturing has emerged as a result of this trend. Additionally, industries and the whole society face the challenges of an increasing number of disruptive events, either natural or human-caused, that can severely affect the normal operation of systems. Furthermore, the growing interconnectivity between organizations, people, and physical systems, supported by recent developments in information and communication technologies, highlights the important role that collaborative networks can play in the digital transformation processes. As such, this article analyses potential synergies between the areas of sustainable and resilient manufacturing and collaborative networks. The work also discusses how the responsibility for the various facets of sustainability can be distributed among the multiple entities involved in manufacturing. The study is based on a literature survey, complemented with the experience gained from various research projects and related initiatives in the area, and is organized according to various dimensions of Industry 4.0. A brief review of proposed approaches and indicators for measuring sustainability from the networked manufacturing perspective is also included. Finally, a set of key research challenges are identified to complement strategic research agendas in manufacturing.

Time inconsistency in sustainable partner selection for vertical collaborative network organizations

“…Additionally, the literature predominantly focuses on partner selection in VEs, which are temporary collaborations for specific projects [3]. However, VEs differ from CNOs as they have limited lifespans, terminating after the completion of their designated tasks or projects.…”

“…The concept of a CNO involves various interconnected networks of independent companies implying a shared distribution of responsibilities among them [2]. Therefore, when considering sustainability, it is essential to adopt a holistic perspective of the economic, social and environmental performances of each potential partner as they collectively contribute to determining the overall sustainability level achievable within the CNO [3]. Sustainability criteria serve as guiding principles within the context of collaborative design in CNOs as they ensure that the design efforts focus not only on innovation and efficiency but also on environmental, social, and economic sustainability.…”

Grand challenges in industrial informatics

“…As these processes involve multiple stakeholders, in addition to appropriate collaboration and business models, it is necessary to determine how to distribute responsibility for the various dimensions of sustainability among these stakeholders. This also requires the development of sustainability-focused performance indicators and the implementation of data collection methods for the metrics involved (Camarinha-Matos et al, 2021) (Zhang et al, 2021) (Camarinha-Matos et al, 2022.…”

Adaptive Automation for Customized Products

“…In recent years, the manufacturing industry has witnessed a significant shift towards product customizability, driven by the increasing demand for personalized products and the need to cater to diverse consumer preferences [1]. This trend has necessitated a fundamental transformation in manufacturing processes to adapt to the evolving landscape of product variability.…”