Sustainability challenges and how Industry 4.0 technologies can address them: a case study of a shipbuilding supply chain

Abstract

The shipbuilding industry is under significant economic pressure and in need of more efficient solutions to secure economically sustainable operations. It is also challenged by social issues and the need for a greener maritime industry is critical. Accordingly, the shipbuilding industry is pressured across all three dimensions of sustainability. This paper aims to identify the sustainability challenges in shipbuilding supply chains and explore how Industry 4.0 technologies can impact the sustainability of shipbuilding. This is achieved through a case study of a shipbuilding supply chain, which results in the identification of its primary sustainability challenges. Further, this work proposes a set of nine digital solutions to support sustainable operations in shipbuilding as the paper’s primary contribution. This lays the foundation for further empirical research on sustainability and digitalization in shipbuilding, while for practice the paper provides enhanced insight into how Industry 4.0 technologies can be adopted in shipbuilding supply chains.

Keywords:

• Engineer-to-order manufacturing
• shipbuilding
• digitalization
• Industry 4.0
• sustainability

Acknowledgements

We would like to thank all the participants that have been involved in the research and the different research projects that inspired this article.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Jo Wessel Strandhagen

Jo Wessel Strandhagen is a Ph.D. candidate at the Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering, Norwegian University of Science and Technology in Trondheim, Norway. In his Ph.D. studies, he is looking into the use of digital technologies in engineer-to-order manufacturing, with a particular focus on shipbuilding and shipyard logistics.

Sven-Vegard Buer

Sven-Vegard Buer is a research scientist at SINTEF Digital in Trondheim, Norway. He is currently working on a range of research projects in the areas of digitalization in manufacturing and supply chains, lean manufacturing and mass customization. In his Ph.D. studies, he investigated the relationship between lean manufacturing and Industry 4.0.

Marco Semini

Marco Semini is an associate professor at the Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering, Norwegian University of Science and Technology in Trondheim, Norway. He holds a Ph.D. in Manufacturing Logistics. His research activities focus on manufacturing strategy and supply chain management, especially within shipbuilding.

Erlend Alfnes

Erlend Alfnes is an associate professor at the Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering, Norwegian University of Science and Technology in Trondheim, Norway. He holds a Ph.D. in Manufacturing Logistics. His research activities focus on manufacturing strategy, lean manufacturing and the integration of lean manufacturing and Industry 4.0.

Jan Ola Strandhagen

Jan Ola Strandhagen is a professor in Manufacturing Logistics at the Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering, Norwegian University of Science and Technology in Trondheim, Norway. He holds a Ph.D. in Manufacturing Logistics. His research activities focus on production planning and control and sustainable manufacturing and logistics.