Supporting the circular economy using digital technologies in operations management processes

Suman Kumar Das and Nicola Saccani

Chapter 3 in Handbook on Artificial Intelligence and the Circular Economy, 2026, pp 28-38 from Edward Elgar Publishing

Abstract: The role of digital technologies as enablers for the circular economy in manufacturing settings is undeniable, supporting the transformative redesign of manufacturing and production processes, business models, and supply chains. Although there is growing interest in these technologies, their use in operational management to improve circular and sustainable manufacturing for value creation has not been extensively examined. The literature on the subject tends to be fragmented, often isolating specific technologies or strategies without considering their collective impact and interdependencies in operational management. This chapter addresses these gaps by systematically reviewing and using content-based analysis to examine the synergy between Industry 4.0 technologies and operational management processes. This analysis examines the interactions between digital technologies and operational processes, seeking to enhance understanding of how they can be integrated to support digital circular economy practices. Thus, it extends the boundary of understanding of the mature, emerging, and nascent relationship between Industry 4.0 and operational management processes in the context of CE.

Keywords: Manufacturing processes; Framework; Sustainability; Digital technologies; Circular Economy (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2026
ISBN: 9781035343379
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