scholarly journals Impact Assessment of Additive Manufacturing on Sustainable Business Models in Industry 4.0 Context

2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (17) ◽  
pp. 7066 ◽  
Author(s):  
Radu Godina ◽  
Inês Ribeiro ◽  
Florinda Matos ◽  
Bruna T. Ferreira ◽  
Helena Carvalho ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Additive Manufacturing ◽  
Industry 4.0 ◽  
Manufacturing Systems ◽  
Business Models ◽  
Industrial Revolution ◽  
New Technologies ◽  
Three Dimensions ◽  
Sustainable Business ◽  
Core Element ◽  
Sustainable Business Models

Additive manufacturing has the potential to make a longstanding impact on the manufacturing world and is a core element of the Fourth Industrial Revolution. Additive manufacturing signifies a new disruptive path on how we will produce parts and products. Several studies suggest this technology could foster sustainability into manufacturing systems based on its potential of optimizing material consumption, creating new shapes, customizing designs and shortening production times that, all combined, will greatly transform some of the existing business models. Although it requires reaching a certain level of design maturity to completely insert this technology in an industrial setting, additive manufacturing has the potential to favorably impact the manufacturing sector by reducing costs in production, logistics, inventories, and in the development and industrialization of a new product. The transformation of the industry and the acceleration of the adopting rate of new technologies is driving organizational strategy. Thus, through the lenses of Industry 4.0 and its technological concepts, this paper aims to contribute to the knowledge about the impacts of additive manufacturing technology on sustainable business models. This aim is accomplished through a proposed framework, as well as the models and scales that can be used to determine these impacts. The effects are assessed by taking into account the social, environmental and economic impacts of additive manufacturing on business models and for all these three dimensions a balanced scorecard structure is proposed.

Emerging Industrial Revolution: Symbiosis of Industry 4.0 and Circular Economy: The Role of Universities

2020 ◽  
Vol 25 (3) ◽  
pp. 505-525 ◽  
Author(s):  
Seeram Ramakrishna ◽  
Alfred Ngowi ◽  
Henk De Jager ◽  
Bankole O. Awuzie
Keyword(s):  
Economic Growth ◽  
Circular Economy ◽  
Industry 4.0 ◽  
Business Models ◽  
Industrial Revolution ◽  
New Technologies ◽  
Production Systems ◽  
Fourth Industrial Revolution ◽  
New Jobs

Growing consumerism and population worldwide raises concerns about society’s sustainability aspirations. This has led to calls for concerted efforts to shift from the linear economy to a circular economy (CE), which are gaining momentum globally. CE approaches lead to a zero-waste scenario of economic growth and sustainable development. These approaches are based on semi-scientific and empirical concepts with technologies enabling 3Rs (reduce, reuse, recycle) and 6Rs (reuse, recycle, redesign, remanufacture, reduce, recover). Studies estimate that the transition to a CE would save the world in excess of a trillion dollars annually while creating new jobs, business opportunities and economic growth. The emerging industrial revolution will enhance the symbiotic pursuit of new technologies and CE to transform extant production systems and business models for sustainability. This article examines the trends, availability and readiness of fourth industrial revolution (4IR or industry 4.0) technologies (for example, Internet of Things [IoT], artificial intelligence [AI] and nanotechnology) to support and promote CE transitions within the higher education institutional context. Furthermore, it elucidates the role of universities as living laboratories for experimenting the utility of industry 4.0 technologies in driving the shift towards CE futures. The article concludes that universities should play a pivotal role in engendering CE transitions.

scholarly journals The Impact of COVID-19 on Sustainable Business Models in SMEs

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (3) ◽  
pp. 1098
Author(s):  
Iva Gregurec ◽  
Martina Tomičić Furjan ◽  
Katarina Tomičić-Pupek
Keyword(s):  
Business Models ◽  
Service Industries ◽  
Three Dimensions ◽  
Sustainable Business ◽  
Business Model Canvas ◽  
Global Pandemic ◽  
Sustainable Business Models ◽  
Service Sectors ◽  
Unpredictable Environment ◽  
The Impact

Businesses have been exposed to various challenges during the global pandemic, and their response to this disruption has impacted their resilience as well as their chances to overcome this crisis. Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) are changing their business models in order to adapt to this changing environment. Service-based industries have been hit particularly hard. This research investigates how SMEs operating in service industries have been coping with the disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. This research aims to gain insights into which transformation drivers they have focused on and which technologies they have selected as a means to respond to the disruption. These insights regarding SMEs are then explored according to their influence on the redefinition of sustainable business models in SMEs. The review data was analyzed via a customized research framework that contains three dimensions and 30 subconcepts. The results show the distribution of drivers and technologies across service sectors. They are organized into a Business Model Canvas and could be considered useful for academia and practitioners. The highly unpredictable environment allows for only a few feasible strategic approaches regarding an SME’s decision on to follow incumbents, to become a challenger, or to reinvent themselves based on their own transformation drivers and readiness to apply digital technologies.

Design Knowledge Development and Additive Manufacturing Systems

2019 ◽  
pp. 205-222 ◽  
Author(s):  
Roderick Walden ◽  
Stefan Lie
Keyword(s):  
Additive Manufacturing ◽  
Industry 4.0 ◽  
Manufacturing Systems ◽  
New Technologies ◽  
New Technology ◽  
Knowledge Generation ◽  
Design Knowledge ◽  
Design Practice ◽  
Manufacturing Firm ◽  
Conventional Design

The adoption of new technology is key for any manufacturer wanting to stay relevant as the world transitions to Industry 4.0. The advance of additive manufacturing (AM) technologies—an important element of Industry 4.0—has become part of a globally accepted reality. However, conventional design practice and knowledge generation inside a manufacturing firm must evolve. Technology-driven innovation must embrace knowledge-directed design work that is aimed at forecasting and utilizing the potential of new technologies. The chapter includes two projects, both of which were manufactured using additive manufacturing laser sintering technology. Analysis of the projects positions them at either end of a wider spectrum of product design practice that more aptly captures the way design and industry must operate for technology-driven innovation and Industry 4.0. A place for conventional design for manufacture remains though the case studies indicate differences in the setting of values to inform practice, requiring new methods for creating and managing design knowledge in the future.

“New Normal” Strategic Communication

2020 ◽  
pp. 71-92
Author(s):  
Slavica Cicvarić Kostić ◽  
Jelena Gavrilović Šarenac
Keyword(s):  
Industry 4.0 ◽  
Business Models ◽  
Industrial Revolution ◽  
New Technologies ◽  
Planning Process ◽  
Strategic Communication ◽  
New Normal ◽  
Business Functions ◽  
New Industry ◽  
Modern Technologies

The digital industrial revolution, also called Industry 4.0, is substantially changing all areas of business. The application of modern technologies is transforming not only products and processes in the industry, but also business models in all sectors, which further implies required adaptations of all business functions. This chapter addresses the new dynamics and implications for strategic communication brought on by digitalization. A planning process of strategic communication will be elaborated within a digital context, together with the specifics of communicating with younger generations. Communication activities mostly relevant for companies in the new industry will also be presented. The issue of ethics in strategic communication will be also addressed, together with major initiatives in regulating the standards of the profession. The purpose of this chapter is to describe the changes that new technologies have brought to the discipline.

Smart contracts to enable sustainable business models. A case study

2020 ◽  
Vol 58 (8) ◽  
pp. 1601-1619
Author(s):  
Francesca Dal Mas ◽  
Grazia Dicuonzo ◽  
Maurizio Massaro ◽  
Vittorio Dell'Atti
Keyword(s):  
Business Models ◽  
New Technologies ◽  
Smart Contracts ◽  
Sustainable Business ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Blockchain Technology ◽  
Start Up ◽  
Social Proof ◽  
Sustainable Business Models

PurposeThe objective of this study is to deepen how blockchain technology through smart contracts can support the development of sustainable business models (SBMs). Particularly, the authors aim to determine the key elements enabling SBMs by applying smart contracts.Design/methodology/approachThe research context focusses on the case study of SmartInsurance, which is a fictitious name for a start-up in the insurance sector and the real name of which is not to be revealed. The start-up was able to collect 18m euros in 80 s in a crowdfunding operation, using smart contracts and a revolutionary business model. Internal as well as external documents of different sources are analysed and coded to gather information about the company, its values and its business and what it pursues with employing blockchain technology.FindingsThe results show how smart contracts can reduce the costs of transactions, increase social trust and foster social proof behaviours that sustain the development of new SBMs.Originality/valueThis study contributes to both the transaction cost theory and social proof theory, showing how new technologies such as the blockchain can provide a fresh perspective to support the development of SBMs.

The Transition Value of Business Models for a Sustainable Energy System: The Case of Virtual Peer-to-Peer Energy Communities

2020 ◽  
pp. 108602662093263 ◽  
Author(s):  
Frederik Plewnia ◽  
Edeltraud Guenther
Keyword(s):  
Business Models ◽  
New Technologies ◽  
Sustainable Energy ◽  
Energy System ◽  
Peer To Peer ◽  
Sustainable Business ◽  
System A ◽  
Production And Consumption ◽  
Sustainable Business Models ◽  
Sustainable Energy System

Peer-to-peer energy (p2p) communities connect electricity consumers and producers on platforms allowing them to trade energy with each other. By synchronizing local production and consumption, connecting decentral actors, and creating new markets, they can promote a more sustainable energy system. A multicase study and expert interviews were conducted to investigate how the business models of these organizations operate and what value they may provide to stakeholders and the energy system. It was found that, due to current legislation, organizations in Germany mostly facilitate virtual, supraregional p2p energy communities. While these do not offer all the benefits of local p2p energy communities, they do facilitate a range of advantages to stakeholders and the overall energy system. Finally, it is concluded how sustainable business models can offer “system transition value,” driving the dissemination of new technologies, the redesign of markets, and the education of customers to foster a more sustainable energy system.

scholarly journals An Industry 4.0 Research Agenda for Sustainable Business Models

Procedia CIRP ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 63 ◽  
pp. 721-726 ◽  
Author(s):  
Johannes Cornelis de Man ◽  
Jan Ola Strandhagen
Keyword(s):  
Research Agenda ◽  
Industry 4.0 ◽  
Business Models ◽  
Sustainable Business ◽  
Sustainable Business Models

scholarly journals PILLARS IN THE MAKING, INDUSTRY 4.0 ON THE HORIZON

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Engin Akman ◽  
Abdullah Karaman
Keyword(s):  
Analytical Hierarchy Process ◽  
Industry 4.0 ◽  
Manufacturing Systems ◽  
New Technologies ◽  
Building Blocks ◽  
Assessment Model ◽  
Three Dimensions ◽  
New Era ◽  
Current Production ◽  
Hierarchy Process

Industry 4.0 (I4.0) marks a new era in manufacturing and has attracted notable attention from practitioners and researchers. Current production processes are being transformed towards interconnecting the elements of manufacturing systems as a result of digitization. Adopting new technologies is an indispensable practice to compete and sustain business concerns. In this paper, the Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP), a multi-criteria decision-making methodology, is employed to evaluate and weigh the nine pillars that are the building blocks of an I4.0 system. The assessment model suggests three dimensions, nine pillars, and thirty-four sub-pillars which are evaluated by fourteen I4.0 professionals responding to a pairwise questionnaire. The results are important as they reflect the opinions of the professionals and can help define strategies for companies investing in I4.0 technologies by elucidating the relative impacts of factors in an I4.0 environment.

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