Open Access Articles

The most important value-adding industrial business processes are product creation and order processing. For 40 years now, Industry 4.0 Science and its predecessor titles have supported the development and implementation of the software used in these industrial business processes. In honor of the journal’s 40th anniversary, a systematic literature review is carried out to identify trends that played a role in the past but no longer do today. The research provides some surprising insights into the topics that have been important in the last 40 years – as well as those that will remain relevant in the future.

Current developments in digitalization and data economy, especially multilateral data sharing platforms, offer the potential to accelerate the implementation of circular economy practices in the manufacturing industry. This article systematically examines the extent to which digitalization could serve as a catalyst for circular economy in the procurement of such companies. As a basis for the following research, eight experts from five leading global manufacturers and suppliers in the automotive and aviation industries were interviewed. This article demonstrates practical hypotheses for the sustainable design of supply chains and proposes two specific use cases for circular economy practices that can proactively counteract the use of resources.

Technical systems are characterized by increasing interdisciplinarity, complexity and networking. A product and its corresponding production systems require interdisciplinary multi-objective optimization. Sustainability and recyclability demands increase said complexity. The efficiency of previously established engineering methods is reaching its limits, which can only be overcome by systematic integration of extreme data. The aim of "hybrid decision support" is as follows: Data science and artificial intelligence should be used to supplement human capabilities in conjunction with existing heuristics, methods, modeling and simulation to increase the efficiency of product creation.

Reducing CO2 emissions is one of the most urgent tasks of our time. Simultaneously, artificial intelligence is developing rapidly. However, AI often brings about its own significant CO2 impact. Experimental testing of Green AI strategies is therefore crucial for their long-term success. A management tool can support this process so that both users and managers can make optimal use of AI as a tool.

The rapid development of generative artificial intelligence is opening up new avenues for the manufacturing industry amid a shortage of skilled workers. Large language models can potentially make production processes in medium- sized businesses more efficient. But how exactly is this potential measured? Key areas of application such as communication, training and knowledge management show why a lot depends on employee acceptance.

Fake news are increasingly dominating the digital world. The question arises: Can modern technologies reverse this trend? The article highlights the potential of the GPT-4o language model for identifying fake news in online comments and news articles and for correcting false information. With impressive accuracy, the model shows how language technology can combat misinformation.

Artificial intelligence is often mentioned often mentioned in the same context as Industry 4.0, but the exact role of AI is unclear. Is AI just another 4IR technology or an essential "enabler" for other 4IR technologies? Six experts assess the impact of AI on 41 4IR technologies. AI could indeed be a decisive factor in unleashing the full potential of Industry 4.0.

A decisive competitive factor for smaller and medium-sized manufacturers of one-of-a-kind and small batches is their products’ timely completion, delivery and commissioning. Precise logistics planning is just as important as production control. However, the processes are often characterized by uncertainties, e.g. due to local conditions at the customer or cooperation with suppliers. Digital shadows for data evaluation in real time offer a convincing solution.

Telepresence Robots (TPR) support the ongoing digital transformation in work and leisure amid climate and societal changes. This article presents two cases, one set in production and one in social participation, to illustrate users’ requirements, which largely coincide. Key requirements include audio and camera quality, a stable Wi-Fi connection, active and passive visual capabilities, and even floor covering.

The decarbonization of the energy sector is crucial for a climate-neutral EU, as a large proportion of greenhouse gas emissions come from energy use. Especially the wind energy sector, with its high material costs, faces major challenges. The rapid expansion of wind energy requires innovative solutions to establish sustainable End-of-Life (EoL) management practices. A digital decision-making framework for sustainable EoL strategies is therefore extremely useful.