How can we use resources so that all the systems involved - especially our nature and environment - can cope with them in the long term and do not suffer any damage? How can we act sustainably? These are the big questions of our time, to which the manufacturing industry must also find answers. Various concepts, including the Global Sustainability Goals (SDGs), the EU Commission's set of indicators, the German Sustainability Strategy (DNS) and indicators from individual federal states, have provided guidance to date.
As the underlying systems for sustainability assessments often differ greatly from one another, it has been virtually impossible to compare companies to date. This is set to change from 2026 at the latest through the standardization of key figures. The publication of the sustainability report (*) as part of the management report as part of regular financial reporting will then affect even more companies than before.
In principle, the following already applies today: companies that operate more sustainably are more attractive to the capital market. These key figures are playing an increasingly important role in financing and investments, although the EU taxonomy, which is criticized by some business associations as unbalanced and impractical, forms the basis.
It is also clear that the collection of all necessary data requires an efficient and widely networked IT infrastructure that incorporates all relevant systems. As software for the efficient use of resources and capacities, this is particularly true of the ERP system.
Nachhaltigkeit im gesamten Produktlebenszyklus verankern
In order to further increase energy and material efficiency, systems such as ERP, MES or CRM must support companies both technologically and functionally. One possible approach is the introduction of a circular economy. In order to consider and optimize all relevant operational processes and interrelationships from a sustainability perspective, both internal data and data from external systems must be taken into account and processed.
Lifecycle analyses and certifications that prove that all products contribute to reducing greenhouse gases are also a prerequisite for access to subsidies or financing.
AI processes complement ERP MES solutions
ERP MES solutions are already being supplemented with intelligent algorithms and AI processes that take environmental aspects into account:
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Determine quantities,
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determine deadlines,
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optimize production sequences,
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avoid overproduction,
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prevent waste and
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control and ensure quality (reduce waste).
Sustainability consideration of the entire supply chain
In order to be able to fully and realistically assess the sustainability of a company and its products, the carbon footprint of all upstream and downstream supply chains must be considered and unified through a higher-level data consolidation. Only by taking this holistic view are companies able to seamlessly monitor the development of key sustainability figures in the manufacture of their products and, in case of doubt, take appropriate measures in good time.
Many companies have taken the initiative independently of political debates and decisions and have set themselves sustainability targets, e.g. to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. This includes both the direct and indirect value chain as well as all support areas. The ERP system is particularly suitable for recording and analyzing data relevant to value creation, such as material purchasing, energy consumption during order processing and the procurement of equipment and production technology. It can be used in combination with the MES system and other systems, such as Human Resources, Engineering or Energy and Waste Management.
In order to be able to record and check the sustainability balance of the entire supply chain, ERP systems should:
- Add relevant sustainability data content to databases,
- offer interfaces for extracting the necessary data for sustainability reporting,
- log even more precise data on CO2 emissions during the manufacture of end products and
- record sustainability-related data from upstream suppliers and make it available to customers themselves.
Sustainable value creation in focus
Resource and environmentally friendly action is a task for society as a whole. On the one hand, the manufacturing industry is required to make its own processes sustainable. On the other hand, companies must also be able to rely on the cooperation of their suppliers.