Big Data-Enabled Smart Manufacturing for Environmental Sustainability and Resource Efficiency

This chapter explores how Big Data-enabled smart manufacturing transforms traditional production systems into sustainability-oriented, resource-efficient operations. By integrating Big Data Analytics (BDA), Artificial Intelligence (AI), Machine Learning (ML), and the IoT, manufacturing firms can optimize energy consumption, minimize material waste, and reduce emissions while maintaining operational performance. The chapter examines how real-time data acquisition, predictive analytics, and intelligent automation support circular economy initiatives, closed-loop supply chains, and process transparency. It further discusses managerial decision-support frameworks, operational strategies, and the technological, organizational, and regulatory challenges associated with implementation. By bridging theoretical insights with practical applications, the chapter highlights how data-driven manufacturing serves as a strategic lever for achieving environmental sustainability, enhancing resource efficiency, and fostering long-term competitiveness in digitally transformed production ecosystems.