Remaining Socially Responsible in the Age of Smart Sustainable Production

Abstract

This paper explores the transformations necessary in the field of social responsibility and social accountability employed by manufacturing companies as they transition to a model of smart and sustainable production. A focus group of managers in production companies has been interviewed concerning the challenges and support they derive for their environmental and community approaches, as the firms deploy advanced Industry 4.0 tools such as the internet of things, digital twins and virtual reality to upgrade their manufacturing systems and processes. The results are presented and discussed based on a set of ranked objective indicators, and proposals for a future implementation scenario are advanced.