Abstract

Industry 4.0 applications have received little attention in the context of end-of-life aircraft treatment, despite their potential to enhance the value of end-of-life products. These applications can facilitate the prediction of a product’s remaining useful life and fatigue, track and exchange data in real time, strengthen partnerships in the reverse supply chain, and improve resource recovery. This research aims to assess the implications of Industry 4.0 technologies, such as blockchain, artificial intelligence and collaborative robots for enhancing circularity of the aircraft considering the sustainability criteria. A fuzzy analytical network process framework is proposed to evaluate the technologies based on a multicriteria approach as well as the interrelationships among criteria and sub-criteria. The fuzzy methodology allows decision-makers to handle the uncertainty involved in assessing alternatives across different criteria. The key criteria and indicators for the evaluation of Industry 4.0 technologies are also identified based on the triple bottom line and the technology performance. The value of this approach is illustrated by a numerical example.