It’s Time to Manufacture a Better TomorrowIt’s Time to Manufacture a Better Tomorrow

Digital technologies could help manufacturers optimize carbon intensity, resource use, and other critical factors while simultaneously growing profitability and market share, explains Rahul Garg of Siemens, who will speak at the Sustainable Manufacturing Expo.

Daphne Allen, Editor-in-Chief

January 25, 2025

4 Min Read

At a Glance

  • The Sustainable Manufacturing Expo will cover the potential of sustainable product design, manufacturing, packaging, & more.
  • The expo will be held February 4-5, 2025, at the Anaheim Convention Center.
  • Rahul Garg will talk about a digital-first approach that seamlessly integrates sustainability into all aspects of business.

Advanced digital technology could benefit both manufacturing and Mother Nature. Such possibilities will be explored at the upcoming Sustainable Manufacturing Expo, where one of the keynote speakers, Rahul Garg, vice president, industrial machinery and SMB program, Siemens, will present, “Manufacturing a Better Tomorrow.”

“Sustainable manufacturing, to me, encompasses a holistic approach to producing goods and products in a way that minimizes environmental impact and resource consumption, and makes them a driver for profitability and growth,” Garg tells Design News. “Some key elements of sustainable manufacturing include decarbonization and energy efficiency, resource efficiency, and circularity and improvements that benefit workers, such as training and ergonomic issues.

“Ultimately, sustainable manufacturing is about mastering the complexity between environmental, social, and economic considerations to create a more resilient, competitive, and future-proof industrial ecosystem,” he continues. “It's a journey that requires a digital-first approach that seamlessly integrates sustainability into all aspects of business and provides a holistic view of the value chain, including suppliers and partners.”

Garg believes that “technology is the key to manufacturing a better future,” pointing to the potential of using digital twin technology. “Combining the real and digital worlds via a comprehensive digital twin makes it possible to digitalize the entire product value chain, from the earliest stages of design through production, use, and end-of-life considerations. This interconnected digital thread extends beyond individual elements, reaching into supply chains and ecosystems, and ensuring that data flows seamlessly throughout the product lifecycle. Industrial AI can provide insights at speed and scale that we need to accelerate sustainability and profitability outcomes.”

Related:Digitalization: Why—and How—Manufacturers Should Start Now

For instance, “with Siemens Xcelerator, an open digital business platform, companies can speed up their transformation into sustainable digital enterprises,” he explains. “Its digital technologies and access to a wide ecosystem act as a catalyst to analyze and optimize carbon intensity, resource utilization, and other critical factors throughout their value chain, while simultaneously growing profitability and market share.”

Last October at Advanced Manufacturing Minneapolis, Garg told attendees that when "you combine the real world and the digital world . . . you have the ability to optimize your entire operations and entire company.”

Related:Hitting the Hot Hubs at the Sustainable Manufacturing Expo

At his upcoming Sustainable Manufacturing Expo keynote, Garg plans to share “how sustainable manufacturing will not only save energy and resources but will also make you more profitable and tap into new markets. With the inspiration we can take from nature, the audience will see hands-on examples from customers and other use cases that utilize technology to achieve their business goals in a sustainable way.

“Attendees will also learn about the transformative potential of biomimicry and nature-inspired strategies in reshaping industrial practices,” he adds. “I hope to share how industrial companies can integrate circular economy principles—recycling, reusing, and reducing waste—by drawing inspiration from natural ecosystems, which inherently operate in sustainable and regenerative cycles.” 

Getting started in digital, sustainable manufacturing

Garg will cover how to leverage innovative technologies, adopt sustainable design methodologies, and foster collaboration across value chains to minimize environmental impact while maximizing resource efficiency, he says. “I look forward to sharing insights gained from successful customer case studies, actionable strategies, and emerging trends that enable industrial companies to align profitability with environmental stewardship, ultimately driving a more sustainable and resilient future.”

Related:Sustainability in Manufacturing Offers Opportunities for Growth & Innovation

He hopes to inspire and encourage attendees to start or continue their digital transformation to optimize their production. “Siemens as a manufacturing company itself can serve as a trusted partner. We want to empower them to be agents of change in driving sustainability. When they go back to their companies, I hope they will be motivated to adopt circular economy principles, draw inspiration from nature, collaborate across value chains, invest in sustainable innovations, champion sustainability as a core value and implement systems to monitor and evaluate their company’s environmental impact in order to ensure long-term viability for their business.”

Garg says that “Siemens supports customers all over the world to become more competitive, resilient, and more sustainable—every step of the way. More than 90% of Siemens’s business enables a positive sustainability impact. We are power users of our own portfolio, embedding sustainability into all parts of our own products and operations, delivering on our own sustainability commitments.”

Please join Garg for “Manufacturing a Better Tomorrow” on February 5 at 2:45 pm in the Sustainability Stadium at the Sustainable Manufacturing Expo. The show, which also features other educational sessions as well as exhibitions, will be held February 4-5 at the Anaheim Convention Center.

About the Author

Daphne Allen

Editor-in-Chief, Design News

Daphne Allen is editor-in-chief of Design News. She previously served as editor-in-chief of MD+DI and of Pharmaceutical & Medical Packaging News and also served as an editor for Packaging Digest. Daphne has covered design, manufacturing, materials, packaging, labeling, and regulatory issues for more than 20 years. She has also presented on these topics in several webinars and conferences, most recently discussing design and engineering trends at MD&M West 2024 and leading an Industry ShopTalk discussion during the show on artificial intelligence. She will be moderating the upcoming webinar, Best Practices in Medical Device Engineering and will be leading an Automation Tour at Advanced Manufacturing Minneapolis. She will also be attending DesignCon and MD&M West 2025.

Daphne has previously participated in meetings of the IoPP Medical Device Packaging Technical Committee and served as a judge in awards programs held by The Tube Council and the Healthcare Compliance Packaging Council. She also received the Bert Moore Excellence in Journalism Award in the AIM Awards in 2012.

Follow Daphne on X at @daphneallen and reach her at [email protected].

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