Ahead of Sustainable Industry Live next month, Head of Manufacturing at XpertRule, Professor Iain Crosley, looks at the key issues in delivering value for businesses, people and planet.
It may still be viewed by some as an obligatory box to tick, but incorporating sustainability into manufacturing processes is so much more.
It’s becoming increasingly clear that profitability and sustainability are not mutually exclusive business objectives, particularly if manufacturers can maximise ROI by successfully integrating AI into their strategies and everyday processes.
I’ll be discussing all this and more in my roundtable at Sustainable Industry Live at Bridgewater Hall in Manchester on 6th November. Ahead of the event, here are some key themes to consider.
Trust in technology is key
Advanced technologies like AI can drive a more sustainable future in manufacturing, but trust is still a major barrier to adoption.
AI has huge potential in preventing unexpected downtimes, reducing waste and optimising complex processes and minimising carbon emissions. But the truth is, there are attitudes that need changing to break down barriers to its adoption. For example, the 2024 Fero Labs Industrial Survey showed that plant managers often act as technological gatekeepers, hesitant to adopt new technologies.
This is not without cause: a recent MIT Technology Review found that AI use case development is hampered by inadequate data quality (57%), weak data integration (54%) and weak governance (47%), impacting the scaling of AI solutions within industrial environments.
Slowly, though, these attitudes are changing. 68% of manufacturers already have at least one use case or process powered by AI - and those small steps will continue to demonstrate AI’s value and build trust.
Sustainability regulations are on the rise
A wave of new regulations means that sustainable practices in manufacturing are fast becoming non-negotiable. To take just two examples, the Green Claims Directive, a regulation to combat greenwashing and false environmental claims made to consumers, has just been signed off by the EU, and the Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation (ESPR) comes into force in mid-2025.
The price of noncompliance? Financial penalty, reputational damage and the loss of customer or supplier trust and loyalty. The stakes are high and getting higher.
Manufacturers must tackle the data problem
Enhancing sustainability practices isn’t just a matter of willpower and good intentions. It requires organizations to overcome the decentralised and fragmented nature of data, so often scattered across silos.
To transform manufacturing operations, you’ll need a holistic view that transcends those silos, capturing data from machines, shop floors and supply chains.
All this data can bring accountability, measurability and minute-by-minute actionable insights that can help streamline and optimise manufacturing operations while reducing carbon emissions.
Actions are louder than words
Many manufacturers have committed to net zero targets and produce environmental, social and governance (ESG) reports to measure their efforts in improving sustainability - but according to the WE Forum’s survey of 3,000 executives from earlier this year, 40% note a lack of alignment between ESG reports and actionable business strategies.
Manufacturers must close this gap between words and actions. The time is now to fully realize the revenue opportunities and competitive advantage of a long-term sustainability strategy.
Join me on November 6th at Bridgewater Hall, Stand 9 as I discuss how to turn the sustainability challenge into actionable and profitable manufacturing strategies and successfully deliver value to businesses, people and planet.
You can register now via this link. Hope to see you there!