Smart Manufacturing Operations Management and Sustainability

Dear Colleagues,

In recent years, the concept of smart manufacturing has emerged as a new approach to production that integrates manufacturing technologies to enable adaptability, resource efficiency, and cost-effectiveness. This paradigm shift is underpinned by scientific advancements in areas such as artificial intelligence, the Internet of Things (IoT), big data analytics, and cyber–physical systems. These technologies have revolutionized the way products are designed, fabricated, and distributed, leading to what is commonly known as the fourth industrial revolution, or Industry 4.0. However, the impressive capabilities of smart manufacturing raise significant questions regarding sustainability. The need for a manufacturing sector that is not only smart but also sustainable is imperative given the environmental challenges the world faces. Sustainable manufacturing seeks to minimize negative environmental impacts, conserve energy and natural resources, and produce products that are safe for employees, communities, and consumers and are economically sound.

The aim of this Special Issue is to explore the nexus between smart manufacturing operations management and sustainability. By collecting the latest research in this area, this Issue will highlight how the principles of sustainability can be integrated into smart manufacturing to create systems that are efficient, economically viable, and environmentally friendly.

This Special Issue seeks to fill the gap in the literature where these disciplines converge, offering insights into how the digital transformation of manufacturing can align with the urgent need for sustainability.

We welcome submissions from various disciplines focused on topics including but not limited to the following topics:

• Sustainable Smart Manufacturing Models: Investigating theoretical and practical models that integrate sustainability into smart manufacturing operations;
• Digital Twin for Sustainability: Utilizing digital twins to simulate, predict, and optimize the environmental impacts of manufacturing processes;
• Circular Economy and Smart Manufacturing: Exploring how smart manufacturing can enable circular economy practices through better design for recycling, remanufacturing, and waste minimization;
• Energy Efficiency in Smart Factories: Approaches to reducing energy consumption and carbon footprint in smart manufacturing settings;
• AI and Machine Learning for Sustainable Operations: Applying AI and machine learning to enhance decision-making in sustainable manufacturing practices;
• Metaverse in Smart Manufacturing: Exploring the integration of Metaverse technologies in smart manufacturing for immersive and real-time operations management and sustainable training environments;
• Policy and Regulatory Frameworks: Understanding the role of policy in shaping the future of sustainable smart manufacturing operations;
• Socio-Economic Impacts of Smart Manufacturing: Addressing the social implications of technological changes in the manufacturing sector, including workforce development and labor market transitions;
• Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) in Smart Manufacturing: Employing LCA methods to assess and improve the sustainability of products and processes in smart manufacturing;
• Supply Chain Management: Innovations in supply chain management that leverage smart technologies for sustainable outcomes;
• Case Studies on Transitioning to Smart and Sustainable Manufacturing: Documenting and analyzing successful transitions and the challenges faced by companies and sectors.

By examining these themes, this Special Issue will contribute to the academic discourse on smart manufacturing, providing valuable insights into how the sector can progress towards a more sustainable future. Overall, the Special Issue aims to provide a comprehensive overview of the current state and future possibilities at the intersection of smart manufacturing and sustainability. It serves as a valuable resource for researchers, practitioners, and policymakers who are involved in designing the next generation of manufacturing systems that are not only technologically advanced but also conducive to a sustainable future.

We look forward to receiving your contributions.

Prof. Dr. Fabio De Felice
Dr. Antonella Petrillo
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. 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.

• smart manufacturing
• enables technologies (artificial intelligence, metaverse, (IoT) in manufacturing, big data, digital twinetc)
• circular economics and life cycle assessment (LCA) approach
• cyber-physical system
• carbon and water footprint reduction
• policy and sustainability standards
• corporate social responsibility (CSR) in manufacturing
• sustainable manufacturing metrics