Chapter 18
The Environmental Implications
of Digitalization in Manufacturing:
A Case Study
Xiaoxia Chen, Mélanie Despeisse, Patrik Dahlman, Paul Dietl,
and Björn Johansson
Abstract The potential of digital technologies is widely discussed and recognized,
mainly focusing on process automation, efficiency improvements and quality control.
The implications on environmental sustainability is mostly considered from a theoretical perspective rather than operational. This study aims to reveal the potential
of digital technologies to reduce the environmental impact in industrial practice. A
case study was carried out at two manufacturing sites of an international manufacturing company producing mechanical components for the global markets. Data and
insights were collected through interviews and observations. This paper presents the
findings in terms of real life implementations and potentials to reduce the environmental impact using digital technologies along the manufacturing value chain, which
can serve as input and guideline for the manufacturing industry.
Keywords Digital technology · Environmental sustainability · Case study ·
Manufacturing
18.1 Introduction
Manufacturing companies increasingly prioritize reducing their environmental
impact due to growing international concern about global warming (Xu et al. 2013)
and stricter environmental regulations (Mathiyazhagan et al. 2013). Meanwhile, in
the manufacturing environment, vertical networking, end-to-end engineering and
horizontal integration across the entire value network of increasingly smart products
and systems is set to bring in the fourth stage of industrialisation—Industrie 4.0
(Kagermann et al. 2013).
X. Chen (B) · M. Despeisse · B. Johansson
Industrial and Materials Science, Chalmers University of Technology, Gothenburg, Sweden
e-mail: xiaoxia.chen@chalmers.se
P. Dahlman
AB SKF, Gothenburg, Sweden
P. Dietl
SKF Österreich AG, Steyr, Austria
© Springer Nature Singapore Pte Ltd. 2021
Y. Kishita et al. (eds.), EcoDesign and Sustainability I, Sustainable Production, Life Cycle
Engineering and Management, https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-15-6779-7_18
249
The Environmental Implications
of Digitalization in Manufacturing:
A Case Study
Xiaoxia Chen, Mélanie Despeisse, Patrik Dahlman, Paul Dietl,
and Björn Johansson
Abstract The potential of digital technologies is widely discussed and recognized,
mainly focusing on process automation, efficiency improvements and quality control.
The implications on environmental sustainability is mostly considered from a theoretical perspective rather than operational. This study aims to reveal the potential
of digital technologies to reduce the environmental impact in industrial practice. A
case study was carried out at two manufacturing sites of an international manufacturing company producing mechanical components for the global markets. Data and
insights were collected through interviews and observations. This paper presents the
findings in terms of real life implementations and potentials to reduce the environmental impact using digital technologies along the manufacturing value chain, which
can serve as input and guideline for the manufacturing industry.
Keywords Digital technology · Environmental sustainability · Case study ·
Manufacturing
18.1 Introduction
Manufacturing companies increasingly prioritize reducing their environmental
impact due to growing international concern about global warming (Xu et al. 2013)
and stricter environmental regulations (Mathiyazhagan et al. 2013). Meanwhile, in
the manufacturing environment, vertical networking, end-to-end engineering and
horizontal integration across the entire value network of increasingly smart products
and systems is set to bring in the fourth stage of industrialisation—Industrie 4.0
(Kagermann et al. 2013).
X. Chen (B) · M. Despeisse · B. Johansson
Industrial and Materials Science, Chalmers University of Technology, Gothenburg, Sweden
e-mail: xiaoxia.chen@chalmers.se
P. Dahlman
AB SKF, Gothenburg, Sweden
P. Dietl
SKF Österreich AG, Steyr, Austria
© Springer Nature Singapore Pte Ltd. 2021
Y. Kishita et al. (eds.), EcoDesign and Sustainability I, Sustainable Production, Life Cycle
Engineering and Management, https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-15-6779-7_18
249