Impact of Industry 4.0 Technologies on Sustainable Manufacturing

Abstract

Industry 4.0 (I4.0) and its associated technologies are increasingly becoming a key aspect of the manufacturing industry in an age where sustainable manufacturing has become a fundamental consideration. Despite Industry 4.0 technologies such as robotics, autonomous systems and Internet of Things (IoT) considered dominant enablers of sustainable manufacturing, the precise impact of these technologies on sustainability remains relatively unexplored as the research in this context remains limited. Therefore, the need for meticulous study and the development of a framework for the assessment of I4.0 technologies’ impact towards enhancement of sustainable manufacturing is evident. The report contains an extensive literature review on several I4.0 technologies, the Triple Bottom Line (TBL) aspects of sustainability and how the respective I4.0 technologies impact the factors contributing to the TBL aspects of sustainability. Through a combination of theoretically available information and practical case studies in the Sri Lankan manufacturing industry, a conclusive framework is developed on how the implementation of the identified Industry 4.0 technologies contribute to achieving holistic sustainability across the Triple Bottom Line aspects. Additionally, through further study and multiplecriteria decision analysis methods, the most sustainably impactful technologies are determined with regards to the manufacturing industry.