Background: Industry 4.0 (I4.0) technologies have transformed supply chain (SC) logistics and production. However, their environmental impact, particularly on CO₂ emissions and carbon footprints, remains underexplored. This study examines the impact of I4.0 tools on SCs sustainability, focusing on reducing carbon footprints. Methods: A bibliometric analysis was conducted in October 2023 to quantitatively evaluate the scientific literature, examining publication characteristics to assess current research and forecast future trends. The Scopus database was utilized with specific filters to identify studies on the impact of I4.0 technologies in SC domains on sustainability, focusing on CO₂ emissions and carbon footprint reduction. VOSviewer software version 1.6.15 was used to analyze selected papers, revealing key keyword clusters and relationships. Results: Five clusters were identified, offering insights for supply chain managers and highlighting links between I4.0 and CO₂ reduction in supply chains: “LCA towards zero carbon”, “Supply chain carbon footprint”, “Risk and decarbonization analysis”, “Industry 4.0 and stochastic models for sustainability”, and “Biodiversity and environmental impact”. Key findings emphasize the strong connection between LCA, carbon footprint analysis, emission control, and the role of I4.0 technologies like blockchain and IoT in reducing emissions. Conclusions: This study highlights the environmental benefits of I4.0 in SC management, supporting global decarbonization goals.

This literature review examines recent studies on the application of artificial intelligence (AI) in public administration, incorporating real-life examples to demonstrate the impact of AI on various aspects of public administration. The review is organised into the following sections: AI for decision-making, AI for public service delivery, AI for policy analysis, AI for public engagement, and AI for public sector efficiency. The paper concludes by identifying potential challenges and future research directions.

A major player in metal mechanic manufacture in Italy that has opted to implement Industry 4.0 standards. One of the key projects undertaken was the creation of a new vision for safety. The aim was met by a team created expressly for the company. The Team placed a high value on PPE (Personal Protective Equipment), which is equipment meant to increase the safety of the Operators while doing their responsibilities. The problem that the Team has clearly warned about, given the frequency of occurrences, is the periodic maintenance of PPE, which is required by law for each device and must be carried out according to strict guidelines to maintain their efficiency and safety certification. As a result, the Team investigated a novel methodology, the topic of this article, based on hardware and software technologies designed to monitor the legal revisions and crucial dates of each piece of PPE in use.

Industry 4.0 represents the main paradigm currently bringing great innovation in the field of automation and data exchange among production technologies, according to the principles of interoperability, virtualization, decentralization and production flexibility. The Fourth Industrial Revolution is driven by structural changes in the manufacturing sector, such as the demand for customized products, market volatility and sustainability goals, and the integration of artificial intelligence and Big Data. This work aims to analyze, from a bibliometric point of view of journal papers on Scopus, with no time limitation, the existing literature on the application of AI in SMEs, which are crucial elements in the industrial and economic fabric of many countries. However, the adoption of modern technologies, particularly AI, can be challenging for them, due to the intrinsic structure of this type of enterprise, despite the positive effects obtained in large organizations.

Background: Every company has a supply chain (SC) and must deal with its uncertainty, which can provoke a bullwhip effect; resilience of SCs is a main characteristic to be achieved. However, studies on the creation of digital SCs adopting Industry 4.0 (I4.0) are very scarce and require more attention. Objectives: Industry 4.0 is very little studied in the field of resilience of SCs, despite the huge benefits it can provide. This study aims to evaluate I4.0 to improve both strategic and operational performance. Method: Initially, a deep literature has been carried out to find out the requirements to improve the resilience of a SC and how I4.0 can contribute. Then, a framework has been developed using Internet of Things (IoT), artificial intelligence (AI), augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR). Results: The resilience of SC is a very new topic, and I4.0 can provide great benefits. The designed framework can improve resilience by integrating new technologies. Conclusion: Adopting I4.0 into the SC can be challenging, but it is mandatory to integrate it to keep competitiveness high and improve the resilience of the company. Internet of Things can collect data, analysed by AI and made available with AR and VR to operators. Contribution: This study helps in closing the gap between the need of resilience in SC and technological solutions based on I4.0. This improves warehousing, inventory management and demand forecasting with distribution communications and information technology.