Industry 4.0: Sustainable material handling processes in industrial environments

Responding to the intensified shareholders' pressure for economic growth, stringent health regulatory schemes and increased consumers' environmental awareness Industry 4.0 and the Internet of Things (IoT) revolution provide opportunities for developing effective industrial applications that efficiently tackle the triple-helix sustainability challenges associated with operations in industrial systems. Our ongoing research demonstrates that Automated Guided Vehicles (AGVs) are a rapidly emerging research field with existing studies focusing more on economic ramifications by addressing network optimization and distribution problems, and less on developing integrated methodological approaches for promoting environmental and social sustainability. This study aims at motivating the role of AGVs as enablers of sustainability in modern manufacturing systems while focusing more on the environmental sustainability echelon. We first provide an overview of the updated AGVs' capabilities in the Industry 4.0 era through reviewing successful case studies. The study focuses on material handling and manufacturing industries While it provides insights for approaching the process industries. Furthermore it indicates the economic, environmental and social aspects at the industrial environment and pinpoints critical KPIs of the system. Prospective research avenues and business opportunities for AGV systems that need to be considered by academicians and practitioners to foster the transition towards a more sustainable future are highlighted as well.