Special Issue on “Green Manufacturing and Sustainable Supply Chain Management”

1. Introduction

Manufacturing plays a vital role in the global economy, as it drives economic growth and development [1]. However, it also presents significant challenges in terms of environmental pollution and resource depletion [2]. As a result, increased attention has been paid to manufacturing and supply chain sustainability, particularly in response to more stringent governmental regulations, like the Paris Climate Agreement, Green Deal, carbon tax, and Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) standards. Green manufacturing, which encompasses the evaluation of the holistic environmental impact and resource efficiency throughout the manufacturing process, is widely acknowledged as the future of modern industry [3]. By implementing sustainable practices and leveraging advanced technologies, green manufacturing aims to minimize waste generation, reduce energy consumption, and optimize resource utilization. Sustainable supply chains, which integrate supply chain management with the principles of sustainable development, constitute the cornerstone of the modern manufacturing industry [4]. These supply chains prioritize environmental stewardship, social responsibility, and economic viability throughout the production and distribution processes. By effectively managing the flow of goods, services, and information while minimizing negative environmental impacts and maximizing positive social outcomes, sustainable supply chains contribute to the overall sustainability and resilience of the manufacturing sector.

“Green Manufacturing and Sustainable Supply Chain Management” principles should be implemented across all manufacturing system levels and their associated supply chains. This concept emphasizes integrating environmentally friendly practices and sustainable approaches throughout the production process and distribution network. This Special Issue focuses on publishing original research and various article types that explore sustainable technologies and methodologies related to construction machinery, automobiles, electronic appliances, and other typical manufacturing products.

This Special Issue on “Green Manufacturing and Sustainable Supply Chain Management” aims to explore scientific models, innovative methods, and cutting-edge technologies. It also seeks to review and survey research on manufacturing processes and supply chains. This publication will feature a compilation of superior scholarly articles showcasing innovative concepts, methodologies, and cutting-edge technologies to advance sustainable manufacturing processes and supply chains. Additionally, it will address the barriers, challenges, and opportunities within this field. We enthusiastically welcome original studies that stimulate research discussions and propose solutions for achieving sustainable production, particularly in the manufacturing sector. Although the list is not intended to be comprehensive, this Special Issue invites submissions on a range of topics related to sustainable manufacturing and supply chain management. Topics of interest may include, but are not limited to:

(1)

Achieving low-carbon manufacturing and promoting the practice of remanufacturing;

(2)

Enhancing sustainable logistics optimization in product manufacturing design;

(3)

Implementing effective technologies and methodologies to reduce CO₂ emissions;

(4)

Developing optimal designs for sustainable supply chain management;

(5)

Conducting comprehensive product life cycle assessments to support green manufacturing initiatives;

(6)

Improving energy efficiency in manufacturing processes through optimization techniques;

(7)

Exploring additional innovative technologies and methodologies for green manufacturing.

Overall, 16 papers have been published in this Special Issue, all subject to rigorous review. The contributions are listed below.

The above 16 contributions are categorized into four distinct areas: Industry Development, Sustainability Technologies, Production Processes, and Others.

2. Industry Development

Reducing carbon emissions is a concern for the entire manufacturing industry, which is related to the future development of the industry [5]. Similarly, in this Special Issue, the development of the industry is examined from a new perspective. In response to the remanufacturing of disposable medical devices, contribution one presented an integral emission framework and conducted a holistic assessment of the environmental impacts of both newly manufactured and remanufactured catheters. This evaluation is carried out using Life Cycle Analysis, allowing for a thorough examination of the entire lifecycle of these products. The results showed that catheter remanufacturing reduces up to 60% of carbon emissions, encouraging remanufacturing adoption in the medical sector. Contribution two presents a novel data-driven methodology to evaluate the integrated development of the regional carbon emission composite system, specifically emphasizing the Yangtze River Delta case study. The findings highlighted that significant efforts are still required to effectively mitigate carbon emissions, indicating a substantial journey ahead in achieving sustainable goals. Moreover, the proposed method is a general approach that can be scaled up to other regions, offering a potential solution to achieving Net Zero. Contribution three focuses on developing and analyzing a Stackelberg game model incorporating trade-in programs within Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) regulations. The study investigates three different closed-loop supply chain structures and evaluates the feasibility of outsourcing third-party collectors to retrieve used products by companies. Contribution four developed a collaborative evolutionary game model for low-carbon supply chains, leveraging the potential of digital transformation to facilitate benefit sharing. The study offered theoretical insights and support for fostering low-carbon collaboration within supply chains during the digital transformation era.

3. Sustainability Technologies

The research of sustainable technology is a hot topic at present [6]. Contribution five presents a groundbreaking optimization framework for planning energy-efficient disassembly sequences, recognizing the growing significance of energy efficiency in product disassembly and the increasing emphasis on green remanufacturing. Moreover, this article unveiled an improved iteration of the whale optimization algorithm customized to tackle discrete problems. The findings exhibited the exceptional caliber and efficacy of the enhanced whale algorithm put forth in this study. Through a case study of an industrial company, contribution six implemented a traceability system. A streamlined and resilient traceability system was seamlessly integrated into an industrial setting by incorporating advanced automatic identification and data capture technologies. This integration facilitated automated data collection and processing, enhancing operational efficiency and accuracy. The study provided a step change to the management of production flows. Contribution seven presented a pioneering approach called the integrated spherical fuzzy bounded rationality decision-making approach. This methodology was specifically developed to address prioritization problems by effectively accounting for uncertainties and decision makers’ psychological behaviors. The study applied this approach to prioritize seven smart technologies within Vietnam’s manufacturing sector. The research findings revealed that automated inspection, remote machine operation, and robotics emerged as the most optimal smart technologies for augmenting production stability and resilience amidst emergency scenarios in Vietnam. Contribution eight presented an innovative sustainability evaluation method based on emergy analysis. This method was specifically developed to evaluate the resource utilization and environmental impact of mechanical production processes, aiming to promote sustainability. The study results showcased the efficacy of this method in quantifying and identifying sustainability concerns within the gear manufacturing process. Additionally, the method offered valuable insights for process enhancement, facilitating comprehensive sustainability evaluations of mechanical production processes and providing decision support to bolster their overall sustainability performance. Contribution nine presented an innovative decision-making approach for electric vehicle battery recycling enterprises. This approach aimed to promote efficient recycling and reuse practices while offering valuable guidance on advancing sustainable economic and environmental progress in the electric vehicle battery sector. The results revealed that within the recycling network, logistics and operational expenses accounted for most of the total expenditures, comprising 48.45% and 31%, respectively.

4. Production Processes

The production process research involves many aspects, including workshop scheduling, scheme optimization, error diagnosis, and so on [7,8]. Many contributors have also made research breakthroughs in this Special Issue in this area. Contribution 10 showcased a successful implementation of a reflow soldering process in a hard disk drive manufacturing plant, leveraging multiphysics simulations that encompassed transient thermal-electric and structural aspects. This study produced three noteworthy outcomes: establishing an effective multiphysics methodology for the reflow soldering process, an enhanced understanding of defect occurrences associated with this process, and introducing a superior series welding tip that outperforms traditional alternatives. Contribution 11 proposed an optimization design model for blank dimensions, founded on the business compass management concept and tailored to fit both enterprise development strategies and production conditions. This approach enabled the design of blank dimensions that meet specific enterprise demands. By comparing the optimized square blank dimension with standard alternatives, research findings indicated that the optimized design achieves energy savings and cost reduction objectives. Furthermore, this optimized design can help balance economic considerations with resource consumption, promoting sustainability. Contribution 12 introduced a novel algorithm aimed at optimizing the motion efficiency of industrial robots. Simulations and experiments showcased the effectiveness of the novel algorithm as a trajectory planner, emphasizing the generation of highly efficient motions by utilizing a motion profile with locally asymmetrical jerks and a lower ramp-up. Contribution 13 presented a production process optimization scheduling algorithm that aims to minimize processing time and transportation time, thereby enhancing equipment efficiency and decreasing unproductive transportation time. The proposed algorithm reduces processing time and maximizes the efficiency of each piece of equipment, effectively decreasing the overall processing duration. A real-world case study was conducted to validate the superiority of this algorithm, demonstrating its lower scheduling process complexity and feasibility in practical operations.

5. Others

In addition to the above sections, the contributors have conducted other research. Contribution 14 utilized MATLAB/Simulink and Carsim to construct a vehicle model and proposed an active collision avoidance control algorithm with multiple objectives prioritizing safety and comfort. This algorithm was based on a model predictive control (MPC) approach. The findings demonstrated that the MPC-based active collision avoidance control system can effectively track the vehicle under various operating conditions, ensuring safety and comfort while meeting the specified requirements for collision avoidance control. Contribution 15 showcased the effective adoption of an induction heating technique (IHP) within a jewelry manufacturing facility, accomplished through a blend of experimental trials and multiphysics simulations covering electromagnetic and thermal elements. The research findings confirmed the practical applicability of the optimized coil model and methodology for developing the IHP within the jewelry manufacturing industry. Contribution 16 investigated how an asymmetric structure affects stress distribution to identify the fundamental reasons for cross-bearer weld cracking in general-purpose gondola cars. The study revealed a significantly higher correlation between the stress levels in cross-bearer weld two, and the positions of the side columns compared to the correlation observed between the stress levels in cross-bearer weld one and the positions of the side columns. Moreover, the research illustrated the practicability and efficiency of the suggested approach for investigating asymmetrical structures, utilizing the correlation coefficient calculation method.

We would like to express our deep appreciation to all the authors, reviewers, and editorial team members who have played an integral role in the success of this Special Issue. Without their invaluable contributions, this publication would not have been possible. We hope that this Special Issue will stimulate further in-depth research into the related theories, methods, and technologies and foster their development and application towards advancing the field of green manufacturing and sustainable supply chains. Ultimately, we aim to promote sustainable production practices and contribute to achieving a sustainable future.