Climate change is a pressing environmental issue that has gained global attention in recent years. As the effects of industrialization and human activities become increasingly evident, there is a growing need for society to take responsibility and address this challenge. The Paris Agreement in 2015 and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) highlighted the urgency of combating climate change. In this context, a new dimension of product quality, known as the climate dimension, has emerged. It focuses on the climate-related properties of products and their impact on climate change. However, the application of this new dimension to industry 4.0, which is characterized by high-tech manufacturing and digitally deliverable services, poses challenges. This article aims to explore the role of innovation for climate sustainability in the quality management of enterprises in industry 4.0.
The Role of Total Quality Management (TQM) in Industry 4.0
Total Quality Management (TQM) is a well-established method for quality management in organizations. It emphasizes continuous improvement and the integration of quality into all aspects of a business. In industry 4.0, TQM has become the preferred approach due to its ability to enhance automation and maximize product quality. TQM 4.0 enables businesses to leverage high technologies to improve not only product quality but also the quality of organizational processes.
The Impact of Innovation on Quality 4.0
Innovation plays a crucial role in improving quality 4.0. It allows for the enhancement of product properties, production processes, and market implementation. However, the implications of innovation for quality 4.0 from the standpoint of climate sustainability are not clearly understood. While innovations should ideally have climate-responsible properties, their introduction without proper engineering support or cost considerations may not effectively contribute to climate change mitigation. Factors such as ICT and innovation infrastructure, personnel support, production organization, and innovation funding have a greater influence on quality 4.0 from a climate sustainability perspective than the climate-related properties of the innovations themselves.
The Impact of Neoindustrialization 4.0 on Innovation and Quality 4.0
The degree of neoindustrialization 4.0, which refers to the level of development and adoption of industry 4.0 technologies, influences the implications of innovation for quality 4.0 from a climate sustainability standpoint. Countries with a high degree of neoindustrialization 4.0, including advanced economies, demonstrate better results in terms of "green" growth. They leverage innovation to improve quality 4.0 and address climate change. On the other hand, as neoindustrialization 4.0 progresses, innovation increasingly reduces quality 4.0 from a climate sustainability perspective. This is due to the challenges posed by high-tech manufacturing and digitally deliverable services in terms of energy consumption and carbon emissions.
Climate TQM 4.0: Managing Quality in Industry 4.0 and Climate Change
To address the challenges of climate change and industry 4.0, a new approach called climate TQM 4.0 is proposed. This approach integrates climate sustainability into the quality management process of enterprises in industry 4.0. It emphasizes the assessment of climate-related properties of innovations, the organization of production and distribution processes, and the availability of innovation funding. The approach recognizes the different stages of the innovation process and promotes continuous improvement of quality 4.0 from a climate sustainability perspective.
Empirical Study and Recommendations
To support the findings and recommendations, an empirical study was conducted using a representative sample of countries from around the world. The study examined the impact of innovation on quality 4.0 from a climate sustainability standpoint and identified patterns of change as neoindustrialization 4.0 progresses. The results showed that ICT and infrastructure, personnel support, production organization, and innovation funding have a greater influence on quality 4.0 than the climate-related properties of innovations themselves. Furthermore, as neoindustrialization 4.0 advances, innovation increasingly reduces quality 4.0 from a climate sustainability perspective.
Based on the research findings, recommendations were developed to improve quality through climate optimization of innovation. These recommendations include developing ICT and innovation infrastructure, improving personnel support, optimizing production organization, and increasing innovation funding. The recommendations take into account the specific requirements of each stage of neoindustrialization 4.0 and aim to reduce global environmental inequality.
Conclusion
The study highlights the significant role of climate innovation in quality management in the era of industry 4.0 and climate change. It emphasizes the need to consider the climate-related properties of innovations, the organization of production processes, and the availability of innovation funding. The proposed climate TQM 4.0 approach provides a framework for managing quality in industry 4.0 while addressing climate sustainability. By integrating climate sustainability into the quality management process, businesses can contribute to climate change mitigation and promote sustainable development in the era of industry 4.0.
Reference
Popkova E.G.; Chililov A.M.; Makarova E.V.; Ryabyshev D.E. (2023). CLIMATE INNOVATION IN THE PRACTICE OF QUALITY MANAGEMENT OF ENTERPRISES IN INDUSTRY 4.0. Proceedings on Engineering Sciences, 5(S2), 249-264, DOI: 10.24874/PES.SI.02.006.