Circular Economy as a Holistic Strategy

The tacit expertise required for industrial maintenance is increasingly at risk due to demographic change and system complexity. This article presents Tacit-TALK, a speech-based system that externalizes tacit knowledge through AI-guided conversation. Spoken input is transcribed, analyzed by large language models (LLMs), and persisted in a knowledge graph, linking new insights to existing organizational data. Using a design science research process grounded in sociotechnical theory and instantiated for semiconductor maintenance, the article contributes design principles for AI-supported tacit knowledge capture derived from value-based stakeholder engagement, a reference architecture combining LLMs with knowledge graphs, and preliminary prototyping insights into user acceptance and organizational implications.

Although it has been demonstrated that organizational knowledge transfer can be improved in principle, there is still no automated approach for identifying patterns in complex, context-dependent, and domain-specific knowledge transfer situations. This conceptual article therefore examines and characterizes knowledge transfer situations using the real-world example of product development in engineering. Furthermore, a concept for an adaptive, AI-based, real-time multi-agent system uses data to recognize recurring patterns in knowledge transfer situations and enables context-sensitive interventions. Finally, an outlook is provided on AI-based learning mechanisms (reinforcement learning) that can be used to adapt interventions for higher effectiveness in the long term.

The design of inclusive work systems is gaining importance due to demographic change and the increasing digital penetration of value creation processes. While traditional ergonomic approaches are based primarily on percentile logic and thus address only a portion of the user population, the integration of digital technologies opens up new possibilities for the dynamic and individualized adaptation of work systems. This article presents a conceptual framework for inclusive work system design that integrates standardization, automation, and adaptability. Methodologically, the article is based on a conceptual analysis of existing approaches from ergonomics and human-centered design. The article makes a theoretical contribution to the systematization of inclusive work system design and identifies areas of focus for further research and industrial practice.

Building a global hydrogen economy requires more than technology and investment; it requires trust. As information systems (IS) increasingly mediate collaboration among unfamiliar, distributed actors, the question of how trust can be deliberately built becomes critical. This study systematically maps how IS enable different types of trust and reveals how these mechanisms can support trusting collaboration in emerging hydrogen value chains.

Assessing the impact of digital industrial platforms on the dynamics and resilience of supply chains requires clear classification of such platforms. This article examines the extent to which a current classification proposal from the field of supply chain management must be further developed in the context of digital platforms for implementing the circular economy (CE). The authors conclude that a fundamental revision is not necessary, as the digital CE platforms under consideration fit well into the existing classification system. However, new research questions arise regarding the distinction between digital service platforms and digital data-oriented platforms, as well as the link between the circular economy and supply chain management—particularly in connection with supply chain control towers, which are becoming increasingly established in supply chain management practice.

Digital twins are frequently referred to as a promising approach for reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in industrial production; however, robust empirical evidence of their benefits under real-world conditions is largely lacking. In this case study, the emission reduction potential of a digital twin—as a conceptually described target system—is quantified ex-ante via the example of a test bench for hydraulic pumps. To this end, the GHG emissions of the original test plan for the year 2025 are determined based on actual measured energy consumption of the tested pumps and time-resolved grid electricity emission intensities. This is followed by a rule-based rescheduling, in which energy-intensive test processes are shifted to time intervals with lower emissions. The rescheduling takes operational constraints into account so that processes and equipment remain unchanged. The savings potential is determined by comparing the GHG emissions of the reference and the optimized case.