Sustainable production

This often means effectively sharing resources in the manufacturing chain, and users sharing resources in ways which were not possible prior to the digital revolution. Optimisation at each stage of energy and material consumption requires simulators and optimisation in real-time. Sharing services which minimise unnecessary consumption require dynamic control of when, where and how products and services are provided. Alongside the evolution of digital technology, business models and knowledge of eco-systems, and how the environment is affected by new materials, must also be developed.

One example of environmentally-smart production is a reduced need for materials. The majority of materials used in the manufacturing chain never end up in the products themselves. By reducing the need for products, cutting waste from materials in production and using recycled components and materials during manufacturing, we can reduce the use of raw materials as well as emissions to air, land and water. Cutting energy emissions is another example. Through smart management and the use of renewable, recycled energy, we can reduce the use of fossil fuels and other environmentally harmful energy.