This text highlights the role of artificial intelligence-powered robots and automation systems in revolutionizing digital manufacturing, covers prod-uct design and customization, and discusses various artificial intelligence algorithms for manufacturing processes and supply chain optimization. It further covers the applications of 3D printing and rapid prototyping for low-carbon development. Features: • Discusses microwave hybrid heating based on innovative joining tech-niques, applications of 3D printing, and rapid prototyping for low carbon development • Explains the role of artificial intelligence in digital manufacturing, data security, privacy issues, and defense mechanism • Provides an overview of artificial intelligence-powered robots and automation systems for revolutionizing digital manufacturing, and techniques for soft robotic structures • Presents case studies related to Six Sigma, digital manufacturing, and supply chain manufacturing • Explains artificial intelligence and machine learning-based high-predicted models for accurate data analysis in industry automation It is primarily written for senior undergraduate, graduate students, and academic researchers in the fields of manufacturing engineering, industrial engineering, production engineering, mechanical engineering, and aerospace engineering.

This book shows how Industry 4.0 is a strategic approach for integrating advanced control systems with Internet technology enabling communication between people, products and complex systems. It includes processes such as machining features, machining knowledge, execution control, operation planning, machine tool selection and cutting tool. This book focuses on different articles related to advanced technologies, and their integration to foster Industry 4.0, being useful for researchers as well as industrialists to refer and utilize the information in production control.

The problems related to the process of industrialisation such as biodiversity depletion, climate change and a worsening of health and living conditions, especially but not only in developing countries, intensify. Therefore, there is an increasing need to search for integrated solutions to make development more sustainable. The United Nations has acknowledged the problem and approved the “2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development”. On 1st January 2016, the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of the Agenda officially came into force. These goals cover the three dimensions of sustainable development: economic growth, social inclusion and environmental protection. The Encyclopedia of the UN Sustainable Development Goals comprehensively addresses the SDGs in an integrated way. It encompasses 17 volumes, each one devoted to one of the 17 SDGs. This volume addresses SDG 12, namely "Ensure sustainable consumption and production patterns" and contains the description of a range of terms, which allows a better understanding and fosters knowledge. Concretely, the defined targets are: Implement the 10-Year Framework of Programmes on Sustainable Consumption and Production Patterns, all countries taking action, with developed countries taking the lead, taking into account the development and capabilities of developing countries Achieve the sustainable management and efficient use of natural resources Halve per capita global food waste at the retail and consumer levels and reduce food losses along production and supply chains, including post-harvest losses Achieve the environmentally sound management of chemicals and all wastes throughout their life cycle, in accordance with agreed international frameworks, and significantly reduce their release to air, water and soil in order to minimize their adverse impacts on human health and the environment Substantially reduce waste generation through prevention, reduction, recycling and reuse Encourage companies, especially large and transnational companies, to adopt sustainable practices and to integrate sustainability information into their reporting cycle Promote public procurement practices that are sustainable, in accordance with national policies and priorities Ensure that people everywhere have the relevant information and awareness for sustainable development and lifestyles in harmony with nature Support developing countries to strengthen their scientific and technological capacity to move towards more sustainable patterns of consumption and production Develop and implement tools to monitor sustainable development impacts for sustainable tourism that creates jobs and promotes local culture and products Rationalize inefficient fossil-fuel subsidies that encourage wasteful consumption by removing market distortions, in accordance with national circumstances, including by restructuring taxation and phasing out those harmful subsidies, where they exist, to reflect their environmental impacts, taking fully into account the specific needs and conditions of developing countries and minimizing the possible adverse impacts on their development in a manner that protects the poor and the affected communities Editorial Board Medani P. Bhandari, Luciana Londero Brandli, Morgane M. C. Fritz, Ulla A. Saari, Leonardo L. Sta Romana

This book discusses three key aspects of business operations: sustainability, human factors, and smart manufacturing, which make up modern business. The authors share their experiences in the transformation of enterprises to Industry 4.0/5.0 and the sustainability of steel production, as well as the reorganization of human factors using the example of the steel sector. The steel industry is covered both from a global perspective (key producers in the global steel market), as well as from a local and sectoral perspective (the companies that make up the sector of metal and metal product producers, using Poland as an example). This insightful book discusses how the steel industry can develop intelligent solutions to enhance sustainable performance and the challenges they must overcome, including policy and regulation. Case studies evaluate how steel companies are investing in new technologies that meet environmental requirements but also human resource development to enhance digital skills and competencies of the workforce. The book will find an audience across disciplines but be of particular value to scholars of industrial, operations, and technology management.

The manufacturing industries remain the foundation of local, regional, and global economies. Manufacturing plants operate in dynamic markets that demand upgrading with transformational technologies for maintaining profitability, competitiveness, and business sustainability. Yet most manufacturing plants currently use technologies that are no longer competitive, and industry leaders face an overwhelming array of operational challenges that require agile and enhanced transformational solutions. This book offers manufacturers effective strategies and tools for the adoption and implementation of advanced operational technologies to ensure long-term innovation, efficiency, and profitability. Covers advanced automation integration in manufacturing, including digitization, AI, machine learning, IIoT, and cybersecurity Describes innovation, development, and integration of control technologies for sustainable manufacturing Explains how to upgrade existing manufacturing plants for the global market Shows how to apply emerging technologies including asset optimization and process integration for product lifecycle improvements, plant operation and maintenance enhancement, and supply chain integration This book serves as a strategic guide to applying advanced operational technologies for engineers, industry professionals, and management in the manufacturing sector.

With the advent of disruptive digital technologies, companies are facing unprecedented challenges and opportunities. Advanced manufacturing systems are of paramount importance in making key enabling technologies and new products more competitive, affordable, and accessible, as well as for fostering their economic and social impact. The manufacturing industry also serves as an innovator for sustainability since automation coupled with advanced manufacturing technologies have helped manufacturing practices transition into the circular economy. To that end, this Special Issue of the journal Applied Sciences, devoted to the broad field of Smart Sustainable Manufacturing Systems, explores recent research into the concepts, methods, tools, and applications for smart sustainable manufacturing, in order to advance and promote the development of modern and intelligent manufacturing systems. In light of the above, this Special Issue is a collection of the latest research on relevant topics and addresses the current challenging issues associated with the introduction of smart sustainable manufacturing systems. Various topics have been addressed in this Special Issue, which focuses on the design of sustainable production systems and factories; industrial big data analytics and cyberphysical systems; intelligent maintenance approaches and technologies for increased operating life of production systems; zero-defect manufacturing strategies, tools and methods towards online production management; and connected smart factories.

Industry 4.0 promises tremendous opportunities for industries to go green by leveraging virtual physical systems and internet driven technologies for a competitive advantage and set the platform for the factory of the future and smart manufacturing. The book provides measures that can be adopted by practicing design engineers, to develop products that will be sustainable in all stages of its life cycle. It helps organizations in implementation of sustainable manufacturing practices and formulation of critical strategies in their transition towards Industry 4.0., and the book will provide insights on ways of deploying these practices in correlation with the environmental benefits mapped to support the practicing managers and stakeholders. Features Assists in the understanding of the shifting paradigm in manufacturing sector towards smart and sustainable practices Showcases contemporary technologies and their insurgence in existing industries Focuses on need, applications, and implementation framework for Industry 4.0 Encapsulates all that one has to learn about sustainability and its transformation in Industry 4.0 Real time case studies are presented