Book Description

This book highlights the important use of digital technologies and the latest developments in mechanical and industrial engineering to enhance environmental and resource sustainability. Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) have as their overarching objective the reduction or eradication of a wide range of global problems, including, but not limited to poverty, climate change, environmental degradation, and inequality. Digital technologies (DTs) have the potential to be exploited to meet the goals associated with the circular economy (CE) and sustainable development. Additive manufacturing (AM), cyber-physical systems (CPS), and blockchain technology are examples of DT-enabled technologies that are helpful for businesses that seek to shift to a circular economic model. With the remanufacturing of products, applications that make use of virtual reality and augmented reality, in addition to the Internet of Things, simplify the construction of strategic decision models that reduce time and expense while simultaneously increasing productivity. In addition, the utilization of big data analytics helps businesses discover previously undisclosed trends and unlock numerous opportunities for environmental and resource sustainability. Employing analytics makes it feasible to collect helpful information regarding the socio-environmental impact of a product, as well as consumption factors over the entirety of a product’s life cycle. This book contains 44 comprehensive chapters and is divided into five parts. Part 1 delves deeply into sustainable operational practices and supply chain management. The impact that digital technology-enabled operational techniques have on product life cycles is investigated, as well as the design of efficient remanufacturing processes, environmentally friendly logistics and warehousing practices, sustainable designs for distributed energy supply systems, and efficient recycling procedures. Part 2 provides a perspective on advanced materials and developments for sustainable manufacturing. The chapters in this section address sustainable material development and its application in the circular economy concept. Included here is an in-depth exploration of cutting-edge technology for synthesis, processing, fabrication, process optimization, testing, and performance evaluation of advanced materials. Part 3 covers sustainable manufacturing practices and looks at the problems faced by the industry when using digital technologies in their operations, as well as the possible benefits. Part 4 examines sustainable innovation in mechanical design. It addresses all aspects of mechanical design that contribute to sustainable innovation for nation-building. Part 5 delves into heat transfer and fluid flow concepts for sustainable product development and applications. The chapters explain how to construct sustainable energy systems by reducing the total amount of energy that is utilized, enhancing the efficiency of the process of energy conversion, and making use of sources of energy that are renewable. Audience This book has a wide audience in academic institutions and engineers in a variety of manufacturing industries. It will also appeal to economists and policymakers working on the circular economy, clean tech investors, industrial decision-makers, and environmental professionals.