Energy analysis and management in flowshop into Industry 4.0 context

With global warming, external pressure to apply sustainable practices and rising energy prices are increasingly important factors in today's society. Moreover, the cost of energy has become increasingly significant, and must to be considered in business competitiveness. This work investigates energy efficiency within the context of manufacturing systems. The methodology includes the development of a simulation model using digital manufacturing software, one of the pillars of Industry 4.0. The scenarios evaluated involve an automotive engine flowshop, where different simulation strategies were implemented that aim to reduce the overall electricity consumption. The results show that control actions using digital manufacturing systems enable the more efficient use of available resources by identifying opportunities to increase energy efficiency indicators, even in well-designed production systems. This work is aligned with the concept of Industry 4.0, where the sustainability of the process is mandatory.