Advance Journal of Science Engineering and Technology
Review Article
• Open Access
Sustainable Manufacturing in the Digital Era: Integrating Engineering Graphics Competency, Biodegradable Polymers, and Additive Manufacturing for Industrial Transformation
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The convergence of digital technologies, sustainable materials, and advanced manufacturing processes represents a paradigm shift in industrial production. This comprehensive paper examines three interconnected pillars of sustainable manufacturing: engineering graphics literacy as a foundation for manufacturing communication, biodegradable polymers as materials for environmentally responsible production, and additive manufacturing as a platform for sustainable fabrication. Through a mixed-methods approach incorporating literature synthesis and cross-national empirical data, the study investigates how deficiencies in technical drawing competency among engineering graduates contribute to manufacturing waste, rework, and production delays, while simultaneously exploring how biodegradable polymers processed through additive manufacturing can enable circular economy principles. Survey data from 632 participants across Türkiye, Austria, and Hungary reveals that 79.55% of industry professionals report production delays attributable to drawing-related errors, while 73.86% report scrap generation. Concurrently, advances in biodegradable polymer formulations and additive manufacturing platforms demonstrate potential for reducing material waste and enabling design-for-degradation strategies. The paper proposes an integrated framework connecting engineering education reform, sustainable material development, and advanced manufacturing technologies to achieve operational excellence and environmental responsibility. Key findings indicate that bridging the education-industry gap in technical drawing competency could reduce manufacturing waste by up to 30%, while strategic adoption of biodegradable polymers in additive manufacturing could decrease reliance on fossil-based materials by 40-60%. The study concludes that sustainable manufacturing requires simultaneous advancement in human capital development, material innovation, and process technology, supported by standardized curricula, industry-academia partnerships, and circular economy frameworks.
Keywords
Sustainable Manufacturing, Engineering Graphics, Technical Drawing Education, Biodegradable Polymers,References
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