Industry 4.0 and Sustainability

The Fourth Industrial Revolution, commonly termed Industry 4.0, is transforming production and manufacturing through integration of advanced digital technologies like artificial intelligence (AI), industrial internet of things (IIoT), big data analytics, additive manufacturing, and advanced robotics. While much discussion has centered on potential economic impacts, Industry 4.0 also holds significant implications for sustainability across environmental, social, and economic dimensions. However, simply adopting technologies does not guarantee sustainability benefits, and improperly managed, they pose risks related to job losses, inequality, and rebound effects that must be addressed through integrative frameworks.

Industry 4.0 and Sustainability will provide the first comprehensive, evidence-based perspective unifying technological, organizational, policy, and social considerations to strategically direct Industry 4.0 innovations towards improved sustainability across economic, environmental, and social dimensions. With applied case studies and integrated roadmaps spanning engineering, management, and policy, it fills a crucial gap in guiding Industry 4.0 deployments to accelerate progress on sustainable development goals.

• Understand capabilities of Industry 4.0 technologies to transform manufacturing, operations, and business models towards sustainability
• Learn integrative strategies combining technological and organizational interventions to maximize sustainability outcomes
• Gain insights into implementation challenges and solutions from empirical case studies
• Access innovative models and frameworks spanning engineering, management, and policy perspectives
• Apply findings through recommendations and guidelines for research and practice
• Appreciate nuances around balancing economic, environmental, and social sustainability
• Develop interdisciplinary literacy at the nexus of digital technologies and sustainability