International Scientific Journals
of Scientific Technical Union of Mechanical Engineering "Industry 4.0"

Energy efficiency is an important part of the EU’s ambition to transition to a carbon-neutral economy by 2050. Greater energy efficiency will be needed in the future if the EU is to achieve this goal. All sectors of the economy have the potential to contribute to energy efficiency. Consistent energy management helps organisations realise untapped energy efficiency potential. In this way, they will benefit from cost savings and make a significant contribution to protecting the environment and climate by reducing harmful emissions and carbon footprints. This study aims to analyse the potential opportunities for businesses to realise savings, gain competitive advantages and achieve sustainable development and a positive image.

Globalization in the modern world covers all areas of life, economy and modern technology, politics and culture. The rapid development of information and communication technologies makes it possible to provide competitive advantages to business organizations. In recent decades, information systems have led to a dramatic increase in the productivity of large and small businesses. This enables an accelerated transition to climate neutrality and digital transformation of the economy, society and industry and requires new technologies, investments and innovations to ensure the sustainable development and competitiveness of every business and a resource-efficient and competitive economy as a whole. The integration of digital technologies in production processes plays an increasingly important role in shaping the competitiveness of enterprises and their sustainable development in the modern world.

The transformation of industrial enterprises to a circular economy in the conditions of Industry 4.0 is a key step towards sustainable development and reducing the carbon footprint on the nature. The main objective of the circular economy is to reduce the waste and utilize resources as efficiently as possible by reusing, recycling and extending the life cycle of products. This transformation requires changes to both the production processes and the business models of enterprises. The transition of industrial enterprises to a circular business model will have a beneficial effect on the environment, increase their financial results and improve their competitiveness. The circular business model requires a rethinking of internal processes, products and strategies. This research aims to analyse the opportunities of industrial enterprises to rethink their product strategies, optimize resources, effectively manage waste and promote a circular organizational culture.

Digital transformation and sustainable development are key concepts that are actively developing in modern business and society. They go hand in hand, creating opportunities to improve efficiency, reduce the negative impact on the environment and increase people’s quality of life. The Industrial Internet of Things is a powerful tool for connecting industrial devices, sensors, and equipment to a network to improve monitoring, analysis, and process automation. With the increasing digitization of business in recent years, cyber-attacks are also on the rise. To protect against such actions, organizations need cybersecurity technology solutions, as well as reliable tools to detect, prevent, and respond to cybersecurity breaches. This publication presents an exploration of the combination and interconnectedness of IIoT and cybersecurity in industrial enterprises, which are necessary to keep these systems secure and protected from cyber threats. A conceptual framework for multi-layered cyberattack defense designed for industrial enterprises is proposed.

This publication analyses the process of transforming the online economy into a circular one. The focus of the analysis is on the progress of the European Union member states in reducing waste. Member States’ progress towards a circular economy is slow. The circular business model should not be seen as wishful thinking, because it will be crucial for companies in the future. The circular economy is at the heart of the European Green Deal and plays a key role in decarbonisation and achieving climate neutrality by 2050 and in the fight against pollution. Circular economy means smarter use of resources. The circular economy is built using sustainable economic models based on innovation and technology to allow the repeated use of the same resources. Achieving a zero carbon footprint on the natural environment by 2050. is the top priority. This would only be possible if the world moves towards a circular economy, and this is one of the highlights of the Green Deal, while also aiming to increase the competitiveness of the economy.

Based on a comprehensive scientific overview of the concepts of reengineering and the studied good world practices and experience, a not very popular, but carrying great potential for a successful reengineering approach, known as the Zero approach, arouses interest. This comprehensive approach to cost optimization is so important for companies to be able to respond to industry changes and market shocks. The Zero approach can be adapted and used on a wider scale to help companies make structural changes that dramatically reduce costs and improve productivity. This publication presents a concept project for the experimental application of a modified version of the Zero approach, which can be embedded in a broader Zero-Based Redesign (ZBR) concept, and become a practical way for companies to radically reform and restructure their costs as fundamentally redesigning the way processes are carried out. This enables companies to design the ideal state of their key processes that will support the strategy, as well as how they can be executed in the most effective and efficient manner. ZBR helps companies streamline and accelerate processes using a combination of tactics: eliminating the unnecessary, looking for solutions beyond the industry, automating and digitizing activities and data, and reorganizing people and strengthening their abilities and qualifications.