Saving energy and looking for alternative energy sources are both elements of energy efficiency management, which is still a significant challenge for many companies around the world. Unfortunately, energy efficiency in companies is often equated only with thermo-modernization or the replacement of lighting. However, one of the most important methods of improving energy use in manufacturing companies may be the modernization of the machine park. Therefore, the main purpose of the paper was to investigate the activities of enterprises in the field of the modernization of machines and the impact of this on the actual improvement of energy efficiency. The modernization of machines in production plants is understood as adapting new parts to the old device or rebuilding the machine in such a way that it can cooperate with its new subassemblies. Companies usually decide to modernize the machinery fleet, bearing in mind the benefits of production efficiency, and they do not always combine this modernization with energy efficiency improvement measures. This is confirmed by the presented results of a survey conducted with a group of 111 manufacturing companies. Several important statistical relationships in the studied area were indicated by conducting an analysis based on the chi-square test and, in some cases, by clarifying the results of the z-test with the Bonferroni correction.

European manufacturing companies are currently in a very difficult situation. On the one hand, they have to strive for sustainable development. On the other hand, they have to face problems related to the geopolitical situation and the pursuit of cleaner production (including restrictive regulations on emissions). A significant increase in electricity prices means that companies have to take steps to use electricity rationally without reducing the level of production or incurring other additional costs. In this study, attention was paid to the influence of quality tools (QTs) in production process (PP) management on increasing energy efficiency (EE). Based on the literature review, it was found that the most frequently described QTs, i.e., SMED, TPM, Six Sigma, SPC, FMEA, 5S, or Poka-Yoke, used to improve PP did not take into account their impact on the EE of the enterprises. Therefore, the main purpose of this study was to examine this correlation and show that QTs can be helpful in shaping the energy management system (EMS). Achieving the research goal was possible thanks to surveys carried out among manufacturing companies. Using statistical tests, the existence of a statistically significant correlation was proved between QTs and EMS elements.

Sustainable development is an opportunity for modern enterprises to build unique market advantages, but it is always a kind of compromise between financial benefits and activities focused on environmental protection. It also requires companies to be able to acquire and process information, the sources of which are both internal and external, and to process it into effective knowledge. Quality management processes are an important element supporting knowledge management as a consequence of similar priorities. There are direct and indirect relationships between quality management, knowledge management and sustainable development. Related issues are an important element of modern research, but there are still some knowledge gaps that need to be filled. The authors, based on the literature analysis, concluded that there are no studies defining the relationship between quality management and knowledge management in the context of sustainable development relating to the Polish metal industry. Therefore, the objective of this study is to identify patterns of company activities in the area of knowledge management relating to the improvement of manufacturing processes in companies operating in the metal industry in Poland. At the same time, it was indicated which aspects of knowledge management are at the centre of management’s concerns. The study was carried out using a survey questionnaire, with 1930 questionnaires collected from employees in 50 companies selected for the study. The study carried out discovered that in the various areas of the Japanese knowledge management model, companies distribute the emphasis differently, which manifests itself in the procedures and ways of operating. At the same time, there are significant differences between large and medium-sized enterprises, indicating that the scale of operation influences the perception of the importance of individual elements of the knowledge management system in the context of sustainable development.

Nowadays, enterprises understand that the implementation and management of information technologies is a step towards improving not only the selected process (in the studied case in the area of production processes, logistics processes and auxiliary processes), but also the entire organization. Existing literature emphasizes the role of IoT in improving logistics efficiency, predictive maintenance and production automation. However, differences in IoT adoption in different countries and company sizes remain insufficiently researched. The research focused on countries that have not kept up with digital transformation trends in order to understand what are the main obstacles in their case. Addressing this research gap is essential for decision makers and business leaders who want to support digitalization strategies in the manufacturing sector. The following research problem was posed in the paper: What is the importance and impact of the use of IoT technology in selected processes on the development of enterprises in the economies of EU countries? The aim of the study was to determine the similarities in the development of EU member states in terms of the level of IoT technology use in logistics and production processes in small, medium and large enterprises of the manufacturing sector. The scope of the study includes the analysis of data on the use of IoT in production, logistics and auxiliary processes in small, medium and large enterprises in the EU. The results contribute to a better understanding of digital transformation trends and provide recommendations for increasing IoT implementation in industrial environments.

Due to the high market dynamics, economic and environmental, constantly growing and changing customer needs, each organization is looking for new solutions related to the technology of goods flow, process optimization, aimed at both improving the quality of products and improving their production processes towards reducing their impact on the natural environment. In this context, Green Human Resources (GHR) may become a key factor in the success of greenlogistics (GL), because the success of the company depends in particular on the actions of employees, their knowledge, skills and their use and awareness. Therefore, the goalof the research was to check how the method of managing green human capital influences changes in the functioning of enterprises in selected areas related to the course and quality of logistics processes (including in terms of GL). As research shows, companies use GHR to promote behaviors among employees that increase the ecological efficiency of the entire company, but their share is still negligible. The study was conducted using an electronic survey questionnaire on a group of 200 enterprises. The conducted research showed the relationship between the importance of individual elements of human capital in enterprise strategies and changes in the functioning of enterprises in selected areas related to the course and quality of logistics processes. The following components had the greatest impact on the studied effects: human capital: knowledge, personal and social skills, interpersonal relations and psychological characteristics of employees.

The article presents a method for selecting spray coating systems for furnace walls and heat exchangers, aimed at protecting them and intensifying heat exchange processes. Calculations were made of the effect of the mutual emissivity coefficient between the heating medium (exhaust gases) and the surface of the exchanger—both uncoated and coated—on the heat flux value. Selected coating systems were applied in laboratory conditions by spraying them onto the boiler surfaces and then measuring their heat exchange efficiency with the cooling medium (water) flowing through the piping system. The results of the laboratory tests were verified under industrial conditions in metallurgical installations, confirming the accuracy of the calculations and the validity of using spray coatings to increase thermal efficiency. The use of appropriately selected coating systems increases heat absorption, extends the service life of exchangers, reduces the risk of cooling system failure, and lowers the cost of heating equipment repairs.