Editorial: Special Issue on Education and Curriculum for Smart and Sustainable Manufacturing

Abstract

Smart and sustainable manufacturing are future strategies for global competitiveness by manufacturing industries. Smart manufacturing intersects operational technologies and information technologies to develop sensor networks, autonomous controls, and high level enterprise management software to enhance manufacturing operations. Implementing smart manufacturing strategies is predicted to result in step changes in efficiency and productivity, offering a competitive advantage for smart manufacturing adopters. Sustainable manufacturing incorporates environmental, social, and economic aspects into manufacturing design, op-eration, and decision making in order to establish a sustained competitive advantaged locally and globally. Research into technical challenges has been ongoing for numerous years, but adoption by industries requires not only technical achievements in smart and sustainable manufacturing methods, but also advancements in education and curriculums for smart and sustainable manufacturing. When combined, educational and technical advancements in smart and sustainable manufacturing will contribute to an increase in adoption of smart and sustainable manufacturing methods. The papers in this special issue of Smart and Sustainable Manufacturing Systems focus on advances and outcomes of traditional and non-traditional education initiatives, learning approaches, and curricula in smart and sustainable manufacturing systems. Theoretical and practical knowledge in smart and sustainable manufacturing will be critical in the future manufacturing workforce. New approaches to teaching, training, and designing programs around smart and sustainable manufacturing systems, which can have complex and multi-scale inter-actions, are necessary to developing these skills in the next generation of engineers. The issue welcomed submissions across a spectrum of smart and sustainable manufacturing learning approaches and engineering disciplines, including but not limited to research experiences for undergraduates and teachers, new teaching methods for smart and sustainable manufacturing, community engaged teaching elements, and new programs or curriculum development to close the smart and sustainable manufacturing skill gap.