A framework for industry 4.0 implementation in circular aerospace manufacture

Abstract

The shift in aerospace utilisation of Sustainable Aviation Fuels (SAF), is redirecting environmental emission towards manufacturing. Significant amounts of aerospace structural components are made from aluminium or titanium alloys, contributing to the bulk of Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions from the manufacturing process. Due to the regulatory and mechanical properties of aerospace-grade alloys, strict recycling and material control are required to ensure the same grade is used for new parts, hence the reliance on virgin material. “Aircraft graveyards” are growing with a new fleet of aircraft being manufactured in the coming decades. Due to their untracked nature and a long, complex paper trail, identifying material types for recyclability into new planes is unfeasible. A strategy to move aerospace materials to the circular economy is critical in curbing the sector’s GHG emissions.Industry 4.0 (I4.0) is vital in moving efficient, smart and sustainable manufacturing. At the fundamental level, I4.0 requires Internet of Things (IoT) sensors to collect and transmit data for a relevant function. This paper looks at implementing a framework for recording part manufacturing emissions, material type and processing to enhance recyclability by leveraging multiple aspects of I4.0, creating digital product passports.