Assessing AI for sustainability in SME value creation

Small and medium-sized manufacturing enterprises (SMEs) are under increasing pressure in the wake of sustainable and digital transformation to prioritize transformation measures in a targeted manner with limited resources. Artificial intelligence (AI) can act as an enabler of the twin transition here, especially when it comes to achieving sustainability goals in value-adding processes. However, there is currently a lack of SME-specific approaches that evaluate AI for Sustainability (AI4S) use cases prior to implementation, while also taking feasibility into account. This article provides a concise overview of the overarching research project. It begins by presenting the current state of research. It also highlights the typical challenges faced by SMEs in the EU manufacturing sector despite the promising prospects of AI, and defines key terms. On this basis, research deficits are presented and requirements for the evaluation logic are then derived. The result is an initial generic, deliberately unvalidated phase model that structures the selection process. Finally, limitations and approaches for further research are discussed