Conceptual Basics of a Structured Method Toolbox for Continuous Improvement towards Positive Impact Factory Design

Holistic sustainable design of brownfield factories poses an unsolved major challenge for companies. Diverse methods from various scientific fields could help but are currently unstructured, hindering systematic application. This paper thus presents conceptual basics of a structured toolbox that assigns methods to different fields of action within the concept of a positive impact factory: material, energy, HR, capital, wastefulness, waste and emissions. The structure builds upon a transparent set of leading questions, expert allocation, and industry validation. The resulting toolbox offers a sound framework for application. It aims to enhance sustainability, support industrial implementation, and defines future scientific research directions.