Sustainability through AI

Artificial intelligence can not only make production processes more efficient and therefore more economical, but also increase sustainability.

Together with a team from the Fraunhofer Institute for Industrial Engineering IAO and the Fraunhofer IPA, a literature review and interviews with manufacturing companies were conducted for the study, which was funded by the Baden-Württemberg Ministry of Economic Affairs. The result is a comprehensive report on the theoretical possibilities and practical benefits of AI for increasing sustainability. The list of possible applications ranges from the development of biodegradable or recycling-friendly products to material- and energy-saving production processes, efficiency increases through early detection and sorting of defective components, optimized control of air conditioning systems, ecological logistics with delivery vehicles operating at maximum capacity or new recycling concepts that enable products to be reused.

The study also provides companies that want to use AI to improve sustainability with a practical implementation guide. This describes how goals can be defined in seven steps and how process, IT, personnel and strategic requirements can be examined. The - sometimes not insignificant - energy requirements of AI are also taken into account here.