MUL 4.0: Systematic Digitalization of a Value Chain from Raw Material to Recycling

The digital revolution, also known as Industry 4.0, offers a variety of new technologies and technological concepts for the continuous optimization of production and logistics processes in manufacturing enterprises. Up to now, a multitude of scholars have investigated potential opportunities, barriers, threads, and necessary enablers of Industry 4.0 initiatives. However, most of the recent Industry 4.0 approaches can still not resist practical tests due to their limited view on a small range of relevant topics. This paper introduces the research project ‘MUL4.0’ which aims to digitalize an entire value chain, from raw material to recycling. Based on an action-research-orientated approach, the authors use a multi-case-study design to investigate the potential of digitalization approaches within production and logistics processes. Furthermore, the authors present future research activities and discuss the therefore necessary prerequisites, from a materials science, mechanical engineering, metallurgical, logistics engineering, and management perspective.