Digital supply network design: a Circular Economy 4.0 decision-making system for real-world challenges
提出循环经济4.0概念，构建分层决策框架与多级仿真优化方法，以蓝藻为可再生原料的案例，研究数字技术如何优化循环供应网络设计，实现资源效率与市场动态提升。
This research introduces the idea of ‘Circular Economy 4.0’ to reflect the emergence of ‘digitalised’ sustainable supply networks. While often characterised by enhanced productivity and resource/energy efficiency, current perspectives are largely descriptive with limited practical relevance. A hierarchical decision-making framework and a multi-level simulation modelling and optimisation technique are constructed to explore the interplay between Circular Supply Chains and Industry 4.0. The real-world case of blue-green algae as renewable feedstock – to derive value-added omega-3 oils and biofertilisers – is investigated to develop ‘Circular Economy 4.0’ perspectives. The emerging circular supply network utilises micro-factories (i.e., photobioreactors), continuous manufacturing technologies (i.e., piezoelectric transducers), and drone operations for feedstock availability monitoring. This study contributes to theory and practice by building on the limited empirical research exploring determinants of successful transitions in Circular Economy-Industry 4.0 network contexts. Four design principles are proposed that capture the interplay between digital technologies and network design configurations, e.g., centralised – semi-centralised – decentralised. Modelling is developed across macro-, meso-, and micro-levels of analysis. Results demonstrate significant gains in terms of resources utilisation and market dynamics, enabled by the adoption of digital operations in a circular economy context, with initial insights on the evolution of such networks.