Sustainability

Serious Gaming and the Energy Transition

Serious Gaming and the Energy Transition

Collaborative knowledge generation and interactive understanding of complex interrelationships
Janine Gondolf ORCID Icon, Gert Mehlmann, Jörn Hartung, Bernd Schweinshaut, Anne Bauer
Conveying the complexity and multifaceted nature of the energy transition to a broad audience is a challenge. This article demonstrates how interactive serious games on a multitouch table can help make connections tangible and comprehensible. The games and the table were used in various conversational contexts. These are presented here in three case vignettes based on participant observation of the different applications, as well as situated and shared reflection. The vignettes demonstrate how interaction can trigger epistemic processes, enable shifts in perspective, and foster collective thinking, all of which are necessary for shaping the future of society as a whole.
Industry 4.0 Science | Volume 42 | 2026 | Edition 2 | Pages 62-69
Industrial Transformation via a Machining Learning Factory

Industrial Transformation via a Machining Learning Factory

A learning module to foster competencies for a sustainability-driven transformation
Oskay Ozen ORCID Icon, Victoria Breidling ORCID Icon, Stefan Seyfried ORCID Icon, Matthias Weigold
Sustainability-enhancing transformation processes are necessary in all sectors if we are to remain within planetary boundaries. This also applies to the industrial sector as a significant emitter of greenhouse gases. Employees need new competencies to master this complex task of industrial transformation. These range from CO2 equivalents accounting to the development and evaluation of transformation scenarios, including technical measures. The learning module developed here addresses these competency requirements and uses the example of the ETA factory to show how a competency-oriented learning module for industrial transformation can be structured. It essentially comprises four phases: data collection and CO2 equivalents accounting, cause analysis, development of measures and evaluation of measures.
Industry 4.0 Science | Volume 42 | Edition 2 | Pages 38-47 | DOI 10.30844/I4SE.26.2.38
Has the Time Come for an Energy Revolution in Intralogistics?

Has the Time Come for an Energy Revolution in Intralogistics?

The current status of hydrogen fuel cell-powered MHE
Gustav Bösehans, Joseph W. Dörmann
Hydrogen fuel cells promise to be a sustainable alternative to fossil fuel or battery-electric material handling equipment (MHE) in various production or warehouse contexts. Short refuelling times, an absence of carbon emissions, and constant power input put fuel cell-powered MHE at an advantage in high-intensity work environments. However, various barriers to the adoption of fuel cells remain, including considerations surrounding cost and efficiency.
Industry 4.0 Science | Volume 41 | 2025 | Edition 6 | Pages 74-80
Loam Construction and Wooden Shelving

Loam Construction and Wooden Shelving

A contribution to sustainability in warehouse logistics
Viviano De Giacomo ORCID Icon, Nathalie Fritsch ORCID Icon, Jakob Kennert ORCID Icon, Dieter Uckelmann ORCID Icon
This study examines the contribution of natural building materials, in particular loam and wood, to the sustainable development of logistics infrastructure, assessing ecological, economic, and technical dimensions across the entire life cycle. Potentials, restrictions, and supportive framework conditions are identified based on literature analyses and expert interviews. Wood proves to be technically mature and ecologically advantageous, especially in high rack construction, while loam offers high potential for energy- and resource-efficient construction. The study concludes with recommendations for research, policy, and practice to establish circular construction methods in logistics.
Industry 4.0 Science | Volume 41 | Edition 6 | Pages 82-89
The Bias of “Instructional Systems for the Disabled”

The Bias of “Instructional Systems for the Disabled”

Ethnographic insights from deploying augmented reality in a sheltered workshop
David Kostolani ORCID Icon, Annemarie Ploss, Sebastian Schlund ORCID Icon
The rehumanization of industrial work has emerged as a key focus in Industry 4.0 research, emphasizing the empowerment of human workers amidst advancing automation. Within this re-search, supporting workers with disabilities through digital assistance technologies serves as a prime example of a human-centric approach to industrial engineering. These technologies often claim to enhance productivity, which aims to promote the integration of workers with disabili-ties in industrial roles. But can they genuinely improve their work experience? This ethnograph-ic study presents insights from two years of developing and deploying augmented reality in a sheltered woodworking workshop. Over this period, we engaged in conversations and facilitat-ed over 30 technology sessions with workers with diverse disabilities. Our experiences chal-lenge the narrative of industrial research, in particular with digital instructional systems serving as “enabler technology” to help them work “better.” ...
Industry 4.0 Science | Volume 41 | 2025 | Edition 5 | Pages 102-110 | DOI 10.30844/I4SE.25.5.102
Sustainability Information Across the Supply Chain

Sustainability Information Across the Supply Chain

Structured requirements analysis for using sustainability data in networks
Lina Keefer, David Koch ORCID Icon, Ann-Kathrin Briem, Shaoran Geng
Sustainability has gained increasing importance for all stakeholders in the value creation network in recent years. As a result, companies are working to optimizr their products and processes with respect to the three dimensions of sustainability. To responsibly design production systems that are sustainable in the long term, continuous data exchange between all actors in the value creation network is essential. Both in early product development and in production planning and execution, reliable information and corresponding decision support are crucial. The following article addresses the structured collection of requirements that companies in the automotive industry have for a data model and methodology to enable decision support.
Industry 4.0 Science | Volume 41 | Edition 4 | Pages 52-58
Machine Learning to Promote Sustainability 

Machine Learning to Promote Sustainability 

Company analysis based on expert interviews
Niklas Bode ORCID Icon, Lukas Nagel ORCID Icon, Oskay Ozen ORCID Icon, Matthias Weigold
This article outlines the results of ten expert interviews on the use of machine learning to promote corporate sustainability and then compares them with relevant literature. The study shows that economic factors drive the use of machine learning, the introduction of which is initiated by both top management and specialist departments. However, grounded strategies for implementing machine learning are rarely available and use cases are often based on supervised learning. The environmental impact (the reduction of emissions, for example) outweighs the social impact, though quantification is difficult. Additionally, a lack of trust, expertise, and communication hinders the adoption of machine learning, while some technical challenges regarding data requirements also pose problems.
Industry 4.0 Science | Volume 41 | Edition 4 | Pages 44-51
Real-Time Monitoring of the Carbon Footprint for SMEs

Real-Time Monitoring of the Carbon Footprint for SMEs

Sustainability in real time — from operation to finished products
Henning Strauß ORCID Icon, Julian Sasse ORCID Icon
Although SMEs are not directly affected by the statutory reporting obligations for carbon accounting, as suppliers they are obliged to meet the requirements of sustainability reporting. In addition to a holistic life cycle analysis, this requires a high-quality database within production in order to determine the specific CO₂ footprint. A central element is the implementation of a Machine Carbon Footprint (MCF). This article aims to develop and implement an MCF focusing on its applicability for SMEs. For this purpose, data is recorded and visualized in real time on a machine tool. The measurement data is then processed, stored and visualized using open-source low-code platforms. Real-time data flows enable the precise determination of the production-specific carbon footprint and, in conjunction with order data, the Product Carbon Footprint.
Industry 4.0 Science | Volume 41 | Edition 3 | Pages 102-109
Enabling the Future of Manufacturing with Digital Twins

Enabling the Future of Manufacturing with Digital Twins

Opportunities and obstacles
Javad Ghofrani, Darian Lemke, Tassilo Söldner
Digital twins connect physical and digital systems, furthering efficiency, enabling predictive maintenance, and allowing the production of more customized products. Despite these advantages, challenges such as high costs, data synchronization, and security risks hinder widespread adoption. This article explores the potential of digital twins and examines key barriers to integration and implementation, also considering some industrial applications including additive manufacturing as a relevant use case.
Industry 4.0 Science | Volume 41 | Edition 3 | Pages 72-81
Open-Source and Cost-Effective Digital Twin

Open-Source and Cost-Effective Digital Twin

A case study with two weeks to succeed
Shantall Cisneros Saldana ORCID Icon, Sonali Pratap, Parth Punekar, Sampat Acharya, Heike Markus ORCID Icon
Digital Twin (DT) adoption remains a challenge due to high costs, complexity and lack of skills. This study proposes a cost-effective, TRL 5-validated DT model that can be built using open-source and office suite tools within just two weeks. Integrating real-time sensor data, predictive analytics, anomaly detection and notification, the model improves efficiency and sustainability in agriculture. Even with cloud service constraints, the system delivers a 7.76% average relative error and rapid, automated notifications. The findings show how open-source in combination with common commercial tools technologies can make advanced digital tools accessible to all, creating scalable, human-centered, and affordable solutions in line with Industry 5.0 principles.
Industry 4.0 Science | Volume 41 | Edition 3 | Pages 62-68 | DOI 10.30844/I4SE.25.3.62
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