The role of human interoperability in achieving sustainable smart manufacturing

Purpose Using smart manufacturing technologies presents potentials for economic, environmental, and social sustainability objectives. Regarding their contribution to sustainability, these potentials are not mutually exclusive but interrelated. This study investigates these interrelationships of utilizing advanced digital technologies for sustainable smart manufacturing. By identifying the importance of the social dimension and its human factor, this study contributes to the recent research on human-centricity in smart manufacturing. Design/methodology/approach We apply a two-step mixed-method approach. First, through 44 expert interviews supported by a literature review, we identify nine key sustainability potentials that influence sustainable smart manufacturing. Second, we analyze the interrelationships and expand our analysis using data from 68 participants. Findings We identify the impact of each factor and the cause-and-effect interrelationships. Our findings show that all environmental potentials can be categorized into effect dimensions. Within the economic and social dimensions, only one factor each is classified as an effect factor, whereas two factors in each domain are recognized as cause factors. Interestingly, employee qualification acts as the strongest lever influencing all other key sustainability dimensions. Originality/value This study elucidates the interplay between smart manufacturing technologies and sustainability in smart manufacturing, offering valuable insights to navigate the interrelatedness of sustainable potentials, in particular regarding human interoperability.