Digitalization of Manufacturing

The interplay between Industry 4.0 (I4.0) technologies and sustainability performance has been gaining increasing attention from scholars and practitioners. I4.0 offers the potential to automate and streamline manufacturing processes, reducing downtimes, enhancing energy efficiency, and improving ergonomics and working conditions. However, generalizing these benefits can be challenging, as they might depend on the specific context and types of technologies implemented. Additionally, an increasing number of studies have adopted a critical view of I4.0 implementation, raising concerns about potential trade-offs associated with these new technologies.

This seminar will explore these aspects from different perspectives. First, it will present the results of semi-structured interviews with six Italian manufacturing companies that utilize I4.0 technologies in their production activities, highlighting how the observed sustainability impacts depend on the companies' contextual conditions. Second, it will provide a thorough analysis of the possible unintended negative impacts of digital technologies on environmental and social aspects, based on the results of a Delphi study conducted with 43 experts from academia and practice.