Information Requirements for Eco-Efficient Manufacturing

Paper i proceeding, 2027

This paper presents information requirements from different groups of stakeholders for eco-efficient manufacturing operations. The aim is to help manufacturers in systematically defining, measuring, visualising and improving resource efficiency, maximizing on the use of production data, and using digital infrastructure to achieve sustainability goals. The study is based on a cross-case analysis of eco-efficiency projects with multiple manufacturing companies. The results show that eco-efficiency practices in manufacturing are shaped by interdependent decisions made across all organisational levels (strategic, tactical, and operational). Each stakeholder role contributes differently but essentially to reducing material and energy intensity, minimising waste, and improving environmental performance. When information, responsibilities, and actions are coordinated across these levels, eco-efficiency principles can be integrated in business-as-usual and become the new “normal”, moving away from green initiatives being run as independent projects requiring heavy investment in cost, time and efforts. Ultimately, putting industrial digital infrastructure at the service of environmental sustainability should be considered equally alongside cost, quality and productivity in digitalization and automation efforts.