Enhancing sustainability reporting in the manufacturing industry through factory simulation software

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master_Slob_Stefan_2025.pdf (811.98 KB)

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School of Engineering | Master's thesis
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Date

2025-11-23

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Major/Subject

Product Development

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Degree programme

Master's programme in Mechanical Engineering
Konetekniikan maisteriohjelma
Magisterprogrammet i maskinteknik

Language

en

Pages

76

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Abstract

This thesis examines how manufacturing companies perceive factory simulation software as a tool for tracking and reporting environmental sustainability. Through reflexive thematic analysis of ten semi-structured interviews with simulation software users, resellers, and industry experts across Europe and Asia, the research investigates current practices, capabilities, and barriers to adoption. The findings revealed a significant awareness gap, as simulation software possesses substantial capabilities for environmental tracking; however, most companies remain unaware of these features, creating a self-perpetuating cycle where neither users demand nor providers promote sustainability functionalities. Financial incentives, particularly energy cost reduction, emerged as the primary driver for adoption, rather than regulatory compliance or environmental concerns, although European companies face increasing pressure from the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD). Participants identified key requirements for successful implementation, including integrated features within existing platforms, intuitive interfaces that require minimal technical expertise, material tracking capabilities for carbon footprint calculations, and energy consumption modelling for peak load optimization. The research demonstrated that the most significant perceived value of simulation software lies in the design phase, enabling scenario analysis and optimization before physical implementation. The thesis offers practical recommendations for software developers, manufacturing companies, and policymakers to bridge the capability-usability gap and unlock the potential of simulation software as a sustainability tool throughout a factory's lifecycle.

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Supervisor

Björklund, Tua

Thesis advisor

Eriksson, Vikki
Ubis, Fernando

Keywords

factory simulation, sustainability reporting, digital twin, environmental tracking, manufacturing, industry 4.0, CSRD

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https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:aalto-202512169312

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[dipl] Insinööritieteiden korkeakoulu / ENG