Browsing by Author "Assad, Fadi"

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    A comparative analysis of circular economy practices in Saudi Arabia
    (MDPI, 2025-04-08) Alsaud, Khalid; Assad, Fadi; Patsavellas, John; Salonitis, Konstantinos
    The rise in urbanisation and resource consumption has highlighted the urgent need for sustainable economic models. The traditional linear economy, which relies heavily on non-renewable resources, exceeds the Earth’s capacity and poses significant sustainability challenges. As a result, there is an increasing necessity to transition towards a circular economy (CE) as a more sustainable alternative. Saudi Arabia, one of the world’s largest economies, is striving to implement this shift due to considerable environmental and economic challenges. However, the country currently lacks a dedicated circular economy strategy, which hinders its efforts to address issues such as waste management and excessive consumption. To bridge this gap, a comprehensive framework was developed to assess and compare Saudi Arabia’s circular economy initiatives, strategies, and policies with those of China, Japan, and Europe. Data were collected and analysed using thematic analysis, allowing for the identification of key similarities and differences between these regions. The study revealed notable variations in policies and practices, highlighting best practices that Saudi Arabia could adopt to strengthen its sustainability efforts. The findings underscore the importance of incorporating global best practices while tailoring strategies to the Kingdom’s specific needs. Policymakers and researchers in Saudi Arabia can utilise these insights to support a more effective transition towards a circular economy. Future research could adopt a quantitative approach, using indicators and metrics to enhance the impact of these findings.
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    Developing a supportive organisational culture for continuous improvement in manufacturing firms in Saudi Arabia
    (MDPI, 2025-06-24) Algethami, Adel; Assad, Fadi; Patsavellas, John; Salonitis, Konstantinos
    Continuous improvement (CI) is vital for Saudi manufacturing firms to remain competitive in the global market. However, cultural factors significantly influence CI adoption. This qualitative study, involving 28 interviews and focus groups with employees from five local manufacturing firms, explored these factors. Seven key cultural themes emerged, including communication, employee wellbeing, talent management, ethics, top management support, organisational learning, and compliance. A conceptual framework was developed to assess a firm’s cultural proximity to an ideal CI state. This framework integrates a diagnostic tool to guide firms in evaluating their cultural landscape and implementing targeted interventions for successful CI adoption. Future research should explore the long-term impacts of cultural shifts on performance and competitiveness.
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    Enhancing sustainability in manufacturing through cognitive digital twins powered by generative artificial intelligence
    (Elsevier, 2024-11) Assad, Fadi; Patsavellas, John; Salonitis, Konstantinos
    The rise of Industry 4.0 has brought new advancements in manufacturing, with a focus on integrating digital technologies to optimise processes and increase sustainability. Cognitive Digital Twins (CDTs) are emerging as a powerful paradigm in this area. They leverage advanced analytics, artificial intelligence (AI), and machine learning to create dynamic, real-time representations of physical manufacturing systems. This paper explores how CDTs can improve sustainability within the manufacturing sector. It proposes integrating generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) into the platforms that operate these digital twins to grant them cognitive capabilities. The work introduces a method for mapping and integrating energy consumption data to an Internet of Things (IoT) platform that includes the digital twin and a generative AI language model, such as ChatGPT. This proposed approach serves as a stepping stone towards unlocking the full potential of CDTs. It empowers manufacturers to achieve higher levels of sustainability and environmental responsibility.
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    A framework for enabling metaverse for sustainable manufacturing
    (Elsevier, 2024) Assad, Fadi; Konstantinov, Sergey; Patsavellas, John; Salonitis, Konstantinos
    Newly introduced technologies often require time for adoption and integration into manufacturing environments, for several reasons including technological maturity, adoption costs, and skills gaps. The inclusion of sustainability as a new requirement for both customers and producers adds further complexity to the equation. As metaverse technology became available, it became logical to establish a set of requirements to harness its new potential and create a sustainability-oriented framework for seamless integration into modern smart manufacturing environments. Against this background, the current work introduces a framework aimed at harnessing the potential of the metaverse to enhance manufacturing sustainability. As a case study, an industrial workshop was analysed and evaluated using the proposed framework. The findings help create a future plan for leveraging the use of the metaverse and prioritising its requirements.