Advances in Sustainable and Digitalized Factories:Manufacturing, Measuring Technologies and Systems

The evolution from current to future factories is supported by research contributions in many fields of technology. While lean manufacturing techniques represent a main improvement paradigm, the integration of new processes and technologies is a breakthrough for step-change improvements and systems evolution. The dominant paradigm of Industry 4.0 is a common framework under development. Accordingly, this Special Issue presents research results focused on the latest technologies and the design/operation of manufacturing systems contributing to this evolution towards the digitalization of production as well as the factory itself. The Special Issues consists of 14 original research papers and two review papers, which cover both fundamental and key enabling digital technologies, as well as the design and application of these technologies for the digitalization of production, covering six main domains: (1) Lean Manufacturing and Industry 4.0; (2) Internet of Things in Manufacturing; (3) Virtual Reality/Augmented Reality in Manufacturing; (4) Digital Technologies for Production Planning; (5) Machine Learning in Manufacturing; (6) Digitalization in Handling and Assembly. (1)Lean Manufacturing and Industry 4.0. Peças et al. [1] proposed a conceptual approach for the continuous improvement cycle Plan-Do-Check-Act, depicting how Industry 4.0 technological concepts should be used for its enhancement. Gil et al. [2], using a systematic literature review process, clarified the origin, evolution, and diversification of the lean concept and concluded that the use of “lean” as systemic thinking is likely to be further extended to new research fields. (2) Internet of Things in Manufacturing. Hosseinifard et al. [3] developed a simple wireless and passive RFID system for analogic pressure manometers, showing an affordable digitalization of analogic industrial systems. Vuković et al. [4] presented a low-cost prototyping solution for the legacy machine retrofit