Integrating Industry 4.0 Technologies Into Lean Thinking for the Development of Efficient, Low-Carbon Processes

Abstract

This chapter aims to explore how lean manufacturing (LM) can leverage Industry 4.0 resources to achieve better industrial performance while achieving cleaner processes. In today's environment, to remain competitive, companies need to incorporate new resources to respond to environmental concerns - especially in the fight against climate change - without compromising efficiency. The goal is not only to clarify and extend the literature on the relationship between LM and Industry 4.0, but also to do so by simultaneously studying the impact on throughput and CO2 emissions reduction. Moving away from the usual separate assessment, the authors propose a comprehensive analysis that allows us to evaluate how LM can establish the right conditions on the shop floor for the development of 4.0 technology-intensive environments, and how these technologies can subsequently be leveraged to enhance the contribution of lean practices to industrial performance and sustainability.