Sustainability in Manufacturing Transforming

While consensus often exists regarding the principles of sustainability, their implementation on the shop floor is a challenge for every manufacturing company. The three dimensions of sustainable production—social, ecological, and economic—must be considered equally when planning investments or improving operational efficiency. In doing so, the implementation reveals additional efficiency potential because the three dimensions interact positively. For example, improved working conditions address the social aspect of sustainability, but they also have a positive impact on motivation and productivity. However, sustainability in operations depends strongly on innovation and research. First, electrification technologies to generate, store, and transport electrical energy will play major roles in the factory of the future. Second, circular processes that close loops in material and energy use will increase efficiency and positively impact sustainability. Finally, innovative manufacturing and digitalization technologies provide further improvements in sustainability. Successful companies on the path to sustainability do not interpret sustainability principles as an end in themselves. These companies have a clear vision of the factory of the future in mind, characterized by sustainable manufacturing processes on the shop floor, a high degree of digitalization and the use of artificial intelligence (AI) to generate data compatible with accepted sustainability standards, and the coupling of different systems and processes.