With evolving regulations as well as pressure for increased corporate environmental responsibility from consumers and investors alike, many manufacturers are moving toward more energy efficient and sustainable practices. This often involves integrating smart technologies into operational processes.

How Smart Technology Is Driving Sustainable Change in Manufacturing

Already, emerging technologies have had a significant impact on sustainability in manufacturing. Cutting-edge tools allow manufacturing companies to streamline operations by reducing energy consumption, water usage, waste and pollution.

On top of benefiting the environment, adopting smart manufacturing technologies can also enhance operations in numerous other ways, including:

• Maximizing plant efficiency
• Improving data insights for smarter decision-making
• Fostering collaboration and knowledge sharing
• Improving issue resolution
• Enhancing safety and quality control
• Minimizing human errors
• Improving product design

These technologies help maximize energy efficiency and sustainability. Building a more sustainable supply chain isn’t just about mitigating climate change; it also helps manufacturers build a more resilient supply chain, stay ahead of changing environmental policies and keep up with increasing consumer demands — all of which can help boost performance and increase their bottom line.

Emerging Technologies to Watch Out For

Below, we’ll explore some of the latest trending technologies that are having the biggest impact on the manufacturing sector:

1. AI

Artificial intelligence (AI) is being championed as one of the technologies with the greatest potential when it comes to going green. There are numerous ways AI is helping solve climate change in manufacturing, including resource management, risk assessment, disaster analysis, remote monitoring and route planning for package delivery.

AI can also be used to identify energy and material consumption patterns in plants and offer insights into ways to reduce waste. Predictive maintenance powered by AI can also help manufacturers take corrective action before equipment failures occur, which can help optimize processes, ensure greater efficiency and reduce energy and resources spent on emergency repairs and equipment replacement.

AI can also be used in simulation tools to improve manufacturing processes. Simulation plays a key role in business process improvement, enabling manufacturers to better visualize how something might work before trying the solution out in the real world. For example, before physically designing a product, AI-powered simulation tools allow you to test out different iterations of a design in a digital setting, which not only ensures better results and reduced product failures but also helps conserve resources.

AI simulations can also be used to educate and train workers in manufacturing plants, ensuring they are better prepared to do their jobs with reduced human error.

2. IoT

The Internet of Things (IoT) is another tool that is fast becoming a must-have in smart manufacturing. IoT devices have sensors that can monitor and share data in a number of situations, such as monitoring energy consumption in real time and providing data insights on how to reduce inefficiencies.

IoT tools can also monitor inventory levels and production processes, identifying ways to better use resources. Waste reduction can also be better achieved using IoT by tracking and managing waste streams using digital sensors.

3. 3D Printing

3D printing has been around for a while now, but recent advances have turned it into a powerful tool for manufacturers to help optimize product design. Not only do 3D printers require significantly less energy, but they can also create products that use only the exact amount of material needed, which reduces waste and consumption.

With 3D printing, manufacturers can also more easily create products and parts on-site, reducing the need for items to be transported.

The Future of Manufacturing

While pursuing a more sustainable supply chain is far from a straightforward task, sustainability promises to play an important role in the future of the industry. Smart technology can become a critical tool as manufacturers aim to reach net-zero (carbon neutrality) and waste-reduction targets.