250
X. Chen et al.
The environmental impact of implementing digital technologies in the context
of Industrie 4.0 initiated controversial debates between optimistic and pessimistic
assessments. It is positive because information is generally considered to be distinct
from material and energy, and to act as a substitute for the use of material resources.
On the other hand, it generates negative environmental impacts due to resource
consumption from computers and other hardware, especially the fast-increasing
waste of electrical and electronic equipment (Berkhout and Hertin 2004).
Since the first industrialization began at the end of the eighteenth century,
the manufacturing industry played a crucial role in the technological revolution
and betterment of the human condition. Applying digital technologies in reducing
environmental impact directly enforces the possibility to reach a win-win situation.
The implication from digital technology to environmental sustainability is mostly
from research perspective. This paper seeks to identify opportunities for realizing
sustainable manufacturing by implementing digital technologies from real company
cases. The purpose is to reveal the possibilities of integrating digital technologies
to reduce the environmental impact in the manufacturing industry. Practices of
using digital technology through the entire value chain, including both vertical and
horizontal integration, are identified through the lens of environmental sustainability.
18.2 Literature Study
18.2.1 Digital Technologies in Manufacturing
The implementation of three features of Industrie 4.0 was targeted (Kagermann et al.
2013):
• Horizontal integration through value networks
• End-to-end digital integration of engineering across the entire value chain
• Vertical integration and networked manufacturing systems.
Digital technologies in manufacturing enables algorithms and technologies at
each system layer to collaborate across a unified structure and realize the desired
functionalities of the overall system for enhanced equipment efficiency, reliability
and product quality (Lee et al. 2015).
In practice, the horizontal integration through value networks can be the Manufacturing Execution System (MES) (Kletti 2007), which links departments such as
logistics and procurement, demand chain, manufacturing, maintenance and product
application. The information flows fast and digitally through different functions.
End-to-end digital integration of engineering across the entire value chain can be
represented as the monitoring of the complete manufacturing flow, which provides a
holistic picture of the operation and engineering as the basis for improvement. Robots
and automated guided vehicles realized the efficiency increase in manufacturing and
transportation.
X. Chen et al.
The environmental impact of implementing digital technologies in the context
of Industrie 4.0 initiated controversial debates between optimistic and pessimistic
assessments. It is positive because information is generally considered to be distinct
from material and energy, and to act as a substitute for the use of material resources.
On the other hand, it generates negative environmental impacts due to resource
consumption from computers and other hardware, especially the fast-increasing
waste of electrical and electronic equipment (Berkhout and Hertin 2004).
Since the first industrialization began at the end of the eighteenth century,
the manufacturing industry played a crucial role in the technological revolution
and betterment of the human condition. Applying digital technologies in reducing
environmental impact directly enforces the possibility to reach a win-win situation.
The implication from digital technology to environmental sustainability is mostly
from research perspective. This paper seeks to identify opportunities for realizing
sustainable manufacturing by implementing digital technologies from real company
cases. The purpose is to reveal the possibilities of integrating digital technologies
to reduce the environmental impact in the manufacturing industry. Practices of
using digital technology through the entire value chain, including both vertical and
horizontal integration, are identified through the lens of environmental sustainability.
18.2 Literature Study
18.2.1 Digital Technologies in Manufacturing
The implementation of three features of Industrie 4.0 was targeted (Kagermann et al.
2013):
• Horizontal integration through value networks
• End-to-end digital integration of engineering across the entire value chain
• Vertical integration and networked manufacturing systems.
Digital technologies in manufacturing enables algorithms and technologies at
each system layer to collaborate across a unified structure and realize the desired
functionalities of the overall system for enhanced equipment efficiency, reliability
and product quality (Lee et al. 2015).
In practice, the horizontal integration through value networks can be the Manufacturing Execution System (MES) (Kletti 2007), which links departments such as
logistics and procurement, demand chain, manufacturing, maintenance and product
application. The information flows fast and digitally through different functions.
End-to-end digital integration of engineering across the entire value chain can be
represented as the monitoring of the complete manufacturing flow, which provides a
holistic picture of the operation and engineering as the basis for improvement. Robots
and automated guided vehicles realized the efficiency increase in manufacturing and
transportation.