Inaugural Editorial: Advancing the future of manufacturing through innovation and collaboration

Introduction

It is with great enthusiasm that we introduce npj Advanced Manufacturing, a journal dedicated to pioneering research in the field of advanced manufacturing. As the Editor-in-Chief, I am honored to launch a platform that will serve as a hub for innovation, interdisciplinary collaboration, and the dissemination of cutting-edge research. Our mission is to provide a space where researchers, engineers, and industry professionals can share their insights, drive technological advancements, and address the pressing challenges facing modern manufacturing.

The decision to launch npj Advanced Manufacturing was driven by the growing need for a journal that can bridge the diverse disciplines involved in advanced manufacturing. With the rapid integration of digital technologies, a heightened focus on sustainability, and the development of novel materials and processes, there is a clear demand for a journal that can bring together diverse perspectives and push the boundaries of what is possible in manufacturing.

Journal’s scope and mission

npj Advanced Manufacturing covers a broad spectrum of topics essential to the advancement of the field. Our journal welcomes contributions in areas such as digital manufacturing, materials science, smart manufacturing systems, bio-manufacturing, and manufacturing for extreme environments. We also emphasize emerging technologies that hold the potential to transform the manufacturing landscape, including flexible electronics, quantum manufacturing, additive manufacturing, robotics, and artificial intelligence.

A critical area of focus for the journal is the development of circular materials and the promotion of materials recycling and reuse. These topics are increasingly vital as the global manufacturing industry shifts towards more sustainable practices. By encouraging research in circular materials, we aim to highlight innovative approaches that reduce waste, enhance resource efficiency, and promote a circular economy. This includes studies on the recycling of complex materials, the development of eco-friendly manufacturing processes, and strategies for reusing materials in ways that minimize environmental impact.

Another key focus area is materials and manufacturing for energy applications. As the world increasingly turns to renewable energy sources like batteries and solar power, the need for advanced manufacturing processes that can support these technologies is more critical than ever. Research on the development of high-performance materials for energy storage, such as next-generation battery materials and efficient photovoltaic cells, is essential for advancing energy sustainability. We encourage submissions that explore these topics, offering innovative solutions to the challenges of energy production and storage.

Flexible electronics, for instance, represent a new frontier in manufacturing, enabling the development of wearable devices, smart textiles, and other applications where traditional rigid electronics fall short. Quantum manufacturing, another cutting-edge area, promises to revolutionize the way we approach material processing, computation, and the design of manufacturing systems, offering unprecedented precision and capabilities.

We accept a variety of content types, including original research articles, reviews, perspectives, and commentaries. Our goal is to publish research that not only advances theoretical understanding but also has practical implications for the manufacturing industry. For example, our ongoing collections, such as “Smart Manufacturing for Biomedical Applications”, “Smart and Sustainable Manufacturing” and “Nanomaterials printed in 3D” provide focused platforms for exploring these critical areas in greater depth.

The mission of npj Advanced Manufacturing is to foster a global community dedicated to pushing the frontiers of manufacturing science. By providing a platform for high-quality research, we aim to inspire innovation, encourage interdisciplinary collaboration, and contribute to the development of new knowledge and technologies that will shape the future of manufacturing.

Significance to the field

The focus of npj Advanced Manufacturing is critical to the advancement of the field for several reasons. Manufacturing is no longer confined to traditional processes; it now intersects with various disciplines, including digital technology, materials science, and sustainability. The integration of these fields has opened up new possibilities for efficiency, precision, and customization in manufacturing.

For instance, our “Smart and Sustainable Manufacturing” collection highlights research that explores how smart technologies can be integrated with sustainable practices to optimize manufacturing processes. This aligns with the growing need for manufacturing systems that are not only efficient but also environmentally responsible.

Our ongoing collection on “Nanomaterials Printed in 3D” explores the innovative integration of nanomaterials into additive manufacturing (AM) processes, enabling the creation of functional constructs with unique optical, electrical, thermal, and biological properties. This Collection invites submissions on novel AM process development, nanomaterial design, advanced characterization methods, and applications that showcase the potential of 3D-printed nanomaterials, pushing the boundaries of traditional manufacturing technologies.

In addition to these areas, we strongly encourage submissions in emerging fields like flexible electronics, quantum manufacturing, circular materials, and energy applications. Research on materials and manufacturing processes that support energy sustainability—such as advanced battery technologies, solar energy production, and efficient energy storage—is vital for creating a sustainable future. By focusing on these areas, we aim to contribute to the development of innovative solutions that address some of the most pressing challenges in energy production and sustainability.

Invitation to the community

We warmly invite researchers, practitioners, and experts in the field to submit their work to npj Advanced Manufacturing. Your contributions are essential to our mission of driving innovation and advancing the field of manufacturing. Whether through original research, perspectives, or reviews, we encourage you to share your insights and findings with our global audience.

In addition to submitting your work, we encourage active engagement with the journal. Participate as reviewers, contribute to special issues, or collaborate with us on future collections. Our current special collections, such as “Smart and Sustainable Manufacturing” and “Nanomaterials printed in 3D,” offer excellent opportunities to showcase your research in areas that are at the forefront of the industry. We also invite you to explore and consider submitting to our upcoming collections on “Digital Twins,” “Space Manufacturing,” and “Additive Manufacturing of Ceramic Materials for Extreme Environments,” among others.

Future outlook

Looking ahead, npj Advanced Manufacturing has ambitious plans for growth. We are committed to expanding our editorial board to include more experts from around the world, ensuring that our journal reflects the global nature of the field. We also plan to collaborate with other Nature Portfolio journals to create cross-journal collections that explore the intersections between manufacturing and other scientific disciplines.

Our long-term vision is to establish npj Advanced Manufacturing as a leading journal in the field, recognized for its high-impact research and its role in advancing manufacturing technologies. We aim to be a driving force in the development of new knowledge, fostering innovation, and addressing the most pressing challenges in manufacturing.

Related Articles

The risk effects of corporate digitalization: exacerbate or mitigate?

This study elaborates on the risk effects of corporate digital transformation (CDT). Using the ratio of added value of digital assets to total intangible assets as a measure of CDT, this study overall reveals an inverse relationship between CDT and revenue volatility, even after employing a range of technical techniques to address potential endogeneity. Heterogeneity analysis highlights that the firms with small size, high capital intensity, and high agency costs benefit more from CDT. It also reveals that advancing information infrastructure, intellectual property protection, and digital taxation enhances the effectiveness of CDT. Mechanism analysis uncovers that CDT not only enhances financial advantages such as bolstering core business and mitigating non-business risks but also fosters non-financial advantages like improving corporate governance and ESG performance. Further inquiries into the side effects of CDT and the dynamics of revenue volatility indicate that CDT might compromise cash flow availability. Excessive digital investments exacerbate operating risks. Importantly, the reduction in operating risk associated with CDT does not sacrifice the potential for enhanced company performance; rather, it appears to augment the value of real options.

Exploring corporate social responsibility practices in the telecommunications, broadcasting and courier sectors: a comparative industry analysis

This study aims to dissect and understand the Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) endeavours of organisations within Malaysia’s telecommunications, broadcasting, postal and courier services sectors, particularly those holding licenses from the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC). These sectors were chosen for this study due to their crucial role in Malaysia’s economy and society, their notable environmental influence, the regulatory and public attention they receive as well as the distinct challenges and opportunities they face in implementing CSR. Employing a qualitative methodology, the study utilises a semi-structured interview protocol to gather rich, detailed insights from top management across eight listed and non-listed companies. This approach ensures a comprehensive exploration of CSR types, practices and their implementation within the target sectors. Purposive sampling was adopted to select informants with specific expertise, ensuring that the data collected was relevant and insightful. The findings of this study underscore that while telecommunications firms actively participate in Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiatives, their efforts predominantly benefit the broader society, with less emphasis placed on shareholders. Additionally, it was observed that environmental issues receive relatively minimal attention from these organisations. This diversity highlights the necessity for a more equitable CSR approach that caters equally to the needs of all stakeholders, including the environment. Such a strategy is crucial for cultivating a sustainable and ethically sound business environment. The implications of this research are manifold. For companies, it emphasises the critical nature of adopting an all-encompassing CSR strategy that fosters competitive advantage while promoting sustainable development. The study advocates for a paradigm shift towards CSR practices that are not only philanthropic but also prioritise environmental stewardship and value creation.

Towards next-gen smart manufacturing systems: the explainability revolution

The paper shares the author’s perspectives on the role of explainable-AI in the evolving landscape of AI-driven smart manufacturing decisions. First, critical perspectives on the reasons for the slow adoption of explainable-AI in manufacturing are shared, leading to a discussion on its role and relevance in inspiring scientific understanding and discoveries towards achieving complete autonomy. Finally, to standardize explainability quantification, a new Transparency–Cohesion–Comprehensibility (TCC) evaluation framework is proposed and demonstrated.

Solution-processable 2D materials for monolithic 3D memory-sensing-computing platforms: opportunities and challenges

Solution-processable 2D materials (2DMs) are gaining attention for applications in logic, memory, and sensing devices. This review surveys recent advancements in memristors, transistors, and sensors using 2DMs, focusing on their charge transport mechanisms and integration into silicon CMOS platforms. We highlight key challenges posed by the material’s nanosheet morphology and defect dynamics and discuss future potential for monolithic 3D integration with CMOS technology.

Building collaborative infrastructures for an interdisciplinary higher education master’s program

This paper examines the practices and importance of building a collaborative infrastructure in interdisciplinary education, using the context of the master’s program developed by the Interdisciplinary Consortium for Applied Research in Ecology and Evolution (ICARE) as a case study. The study focuses on two levels of collaborative infrastructure: The project organization and project practice of the ICARE program and the specific use of CoNavigator, a physical tool for interdisciplinary teaching, learning, and collaboration. The analysis explores the educational aspects of the ICARE program and investigates how the training teams (each consisting of a master’s student, supervisors, and mentors) within the project organized themselves and developed their collaboration methods. By examining the challenges faced by ICARE and the implications for its Trainees and stakeholders, this paper emphasizes the significance of prioritizing and developing robust and explicit collaborative infrastructures both at the program and institutional level, as the challenges identified in ICARE mirror those at higher institutional levels, where interdisciplinary activities are not sustained unless they are fully embedded in the visible and physical structures. The findings provide valuable insights for future interdisciplinary study programs and underscore the necessity of proactive infrastructure planning and implementation to support successful interdisciplinary teaching and learning practices.

Responses

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *