Table 2.
Elements for developing sustainability via I4.0.
| Item | Elements | TBL | Most cited articles (2016–2021) ordered from 1 to 30 |
Freq. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | 02 | 03 | 04 | 05 | 06 | 07 | 08 | 09 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 30 | ||||
| E1 | Use IIoT, AI, and CPPSs to increase production efficiency and flexibility by interconnecting devices and processes and developing modular production in order to achieve benefits such as the efficient use of resources and reduced carbon emissions. | EC/EN | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | 22 | ||||||||
| E2 | Design and develop an intelligent platform that promotes greater integration among supply chain members to increase communication, data sharing, flexibility, and productivity. | EC | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | 20 | ||||||||||
| E3 | Integrate I4.0 technologies with more sustainable economic models, such as the circular economy, the sale of physical products combined with new services, and/or the sale of functionality and product accessibility instead of selling the tangible product, offering more value to the customer. | EC/EN/SO | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | 18 | ||||||||||||
| E4 | Implement sensors and software to share data in real-time, plan production, and monitor resource consumption, waste generation, machine efficiency, and inventory control, which positively affect costs and profits. | EC/EN/SO | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | 18 | ||||||||||||
| E5 | Create intelligent systems for monitoring energy consumption in real-time and replanning costs related to this type of consumption. | EC/EN | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | 17 | |||||||||||||
| E6 | Use I4.0 technologies and principles to drive vertical and horizontal integration of production systems to shorten lead times and improve interoperability and productivity. | EC | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | 16 | ||||||||||||||
| E7 | Use additive manufacturing to produce parts with lower cost, less waste generation, and longer life cycle so that they can be repaired or recovered more easily, without being replaced or removed. | EC/EN | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | 15 | |||||||||||||||
| E8 | Implement an intelligent system to perform talent selection/acquisition, training, and career development, and create continuous learning programs on new knowledge and capacity development related to sustainability and I4.0. | SO | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | 15 | |||||||||||||||
| E9 | Use autonomous robots to perform repetitive and dangerous tasks or those that demand a high physical load, improving workers' health and safety. | SO | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | 15 | |||||||||||||||
| E10 | Include in the organizational strategy the transition to I4.0 considering the planning, purchase, implementation, and management of digital technologies in light of sustainability. | EC/EN/SO | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | 14 | ||||||||||||||||
| E11 | Design smart products that use I4.0 technologies to monitor their life cycle by tracking, collecting, and analyzing data that contribute to the circular economy and greenhouse gas reduction. | EC/EN | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | 14 | ||||||||||||||||
| E12 | Collect data via the internet of people (IoP) to interact with customers, analyze data, identify consumption patterns, and replan products, aiming for customization. | EC/SO | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | 10 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| E13 | Networking machines to improve the detection of quality failures, seeking to reduce rework, rejection, material consumption, and failure rates. | EC | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | 10 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| E14 | Deploy intelligent cameras and sensors and AI-based tracking systems to detect and report any human or machine behavior that could threaten worker safety. | SO | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | 10 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| E15 | Use I4.0 technologies to perform process simulations to reduce energy consumption and improve product life cycle management, including recycling. | EN | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | 9 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| E16 | Use I4.0 technologies to inform, raise awareness, and carry out satisfaction surveys, among other actions, to improve the organizational climate. | SO | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | 9 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| E17 | Plan qualification for digital work gradually, aiming to minimize the negative impact of I4.0 on workers, such as the stress caused by the need for more skills in information and communication technologies and a high degree of flexibility. | SO | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | 9 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| E18 | Improve the practical learning of workers via intelligent systems with a better human-machine interface, promoting greater productivity and job satisfaction. | EC/SO | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | 9 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| E19 | Use I4.0 technologies to achieve the UN's Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), generating opportunities for sustainability. | EC/EN/SO | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | 8 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| E20 | Adopt global data-sharing standards and protocols so that systems coupled with intelligent mechanisms can act effectively and communicate freely, promoting the sustainability of the organization's business. | EC | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | 8 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| E21 | Use I4.0 technologies to develop preventive and predictive maintenance processes to extend equipment lifetime, ensure the health and safety of employees, and promote environmental management (prevention of leaks, increased use of biodegradable products, more efficient use of energy, etc.). | EC/EN/SO | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | 8 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| E22 | Use intelligent equipment that can create more favorable conditions for efficient water consumption. | EN | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | 8 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| E23 | Use I4.0 in logistics to optimize the volume and flow of materials, reduce the number of wrong deliveries, waiting times, logistical costs, and gas emissions from transport. | EC/EN | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | 8 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| E24 | Create online platforms for sharing data between companies and stakeholders to exchange experiences and create transparent business ecosystems. | EC | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | 7 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| E25 | Use I4.0 to design and manufacture sustainable products, improving the company's image, profitability, and market share. | EC/EN | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | 7 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| E26 | Develop an intelligent tracking and data-protection system to ensure cyber security in a technical and administrative environment. | EC | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | 7 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| E27 | Use I4.0 technologies to operate decentralized distribution centers close to where the products will be consumed, reducing logistics costs and environmental impacts. | EC | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | 7 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| E28 | Use I4.0 technologies to manage industrial symbiosis, a strategy that interacts with different industrial companies to share and reuse waste, raw materials, energy, or effluents, resulting in mutual benefits from an economic and environmental point of view. | EC/EN | x | x | x | x | x | 5 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| E29 | Use blockchain technology (closed network and protected by encryption) to increase the reliability of the supply chain, providing accurate, reliable, and real-time data to stakeholders. | EC/SO | x | x | x | x | x | 5 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| E30 | Integrate digital technologies into logistical processes for monitoring disposal and the use/reuse of packaging. | EN | x | x | x | x | x | 5 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| E31 | Replace or modernize parts and software with newer versions of manufacturing machines (retrofit) to save material and energy, and to increase productivity. | EC/EN | x | x | x | x | 4 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| E32 | Provide augmented reality glasses for performing complex cognitive tasks to improve safety, job satisfaction, and productivity. | EC/SO | x | x | x | x | 4 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| E33 | Use I4.0 technologies to support decision-making, as I4.0 enables the systematization and analysis of data that will assist in more proactive decisions in manufacturing management, also benefiting triple bottom line issues. | EC/EN/SO | x | x | x | 3 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| E34 | Use the IoT, IoS, and advanced simulation software for virtual prototyping to customize and simulate the production line. | EC | x | x | x | 3 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| E35 | Use I4.0 technologies in resource-reuse management platforms to drive the shift towards zero waste. | EN | x | x | x | 3 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| E36 | Conduct audits to identify gaps such as cyber vulnerability and crisis management strategy that hinder the transformation and maintenance of the new business model based on I4.0. | EC | x | x | 2 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| E37 | Use I4.0 technologies to enable access to sustainability reports supported by environmental management accounting without human interference, avoiding the practice of greenwashing (misleading advertising). | EC/EN/SO | x | x | 2 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| E38 | Use I4.0 technologies to improve waste management, providing savings in financial resources, environmental protection, and better health and safety for workers. | EC/EN/SO | x | x | 2 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| E39 | Apply digital twin and AI models to plan the synchronized production of custom products. | EC | x | x | 2 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| E40 | Implement digital tools for the automatic pre-processing of production data so that they are filtered, combined, included, or disregarded to facilitate their use by workers. | SO | x | x | 2 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| E41 | Carry out and monitor production in real-time through the use of smart portable terminals (tablets, smartphones, etc.). | SO | x | x | 2 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| E42 | Use the RFID system to identify, track, inspect and monitor products in real-time, improving their quality and increasing production efficiency. | EC | x | 1 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| E43 | Use I4.0 technologies to improve equipment performance, reducing idle time and energy consumption, contributing to sustainability. | EC/EN | x | 1 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| E44 | Use I4.0 technologies to implement the self-optimization of production and logistics to increase availability, reduce costs, and reduce the consumption of resources. | EC | x | 1 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Notes:(1) TBL = triple bottom line; EC = economic; EN = environmental; SO = social. (2) The "x" marks the occurrence of the elements (described in the second column) in the articles (ordered from 1 to 30). (3) "Freq." corresponds to the sum of the occurrence of each element identified in the analyzed articles.