Potential and benefits of AI in implementing sustainability for industrial engineering sectors
Yousef AL KALBANI, Waleed. AHMED, Amine EL MOUTAOUAKIL, Ameera MOHAMMAD, Goh YINGXIN, Jianjian WANG
Abstract. Artificial Intelligence (AI) is becoming a crucial tool for enhancing sustainability in industrial engineering. AI helps industries reduce their environmental impact and utilize resources more efficiently by transforming how energy, maintenance, supply chains, waste management, and workplace safety are managed. In energy management, AI enhances energy distribution, predicts energy demand more accurately, and facilitates the integration of renewable energy sources. Predictive maintenance using AI helps industries avoid equipment breakdowns, save money, and extend the lifespan of their machines, which also reduces energy consumption and waste. In the circular economy, AI plays a crucial role in reducing waste, recycling materials, and managing resources more efficiently throughout product life cycles. In manufacturing, AI enables more efficient processes through data-driven decision-making, thereby reducing waste and conserving energy. AI also enhances worker safety by utilizing sensors to monitor conditions and predict risks, such as fatigue, poor ergonomics, or unsafe practices, thereby creating safer workplaces. However, there are challenges, including poor data quality, unclear AI models, and the need for strong infrastructure to support AI adoption. This paper explores these benefits and challenges, showing how AI can make industrial engineering more sustainable while supporting global climate action, environmental protection, and long-term sustainability goals for society.
Keywords
Artificial Intelligence (AI), Sustainable Industrial Engineering, Predictive Maintenance, Circular Economy, Energy Management
Published online 6/20/2026, 7 pages
Copyright © 2026 by the author(s)
Published under license by Materials Research Forum LLC., Millersville PA, USA
Citation: Yousef AL KALBANI, Waleed. AHMED, Amine EL MOUTAOUAKIL, Ameera MOHAMMAD, Goh YINGXIN, Jianjian WANG, Potential and benefits of AI in implementing sustainability for industrial engineering sectors, Materials Research Proceedings, Vol. 67, pp 495-501, 2026
DOI: https://doi.org/10.21741/9781644904176-65
The article was published as article 65 of the book Climate Action and Sustainability
Content from this work may be used under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 license. Any further distribution of this work must maintain attribution to the author(s) and the title of the work, journal citation and DOI.
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