Abstract
This study explores future needs and trends in AI-powered design-manufacturing collaboration for circular economy business models, focusing on Taiwan’s small and medium-sized manufacturing enterprises (SMEs), particularly in sectors such as textiles, electronics, and recycling-related industries. By integrating global sustainability trends and circular economy strategies, the research investigates how hybrid design and manufacturing models can drive sustainability and enhance resource efficiency. Using Quality Function Deployment (QFD) methodology, the study identifies key design requirements and translates them into technical solutions to address gaps in design-manufacturing collaboration. International case studies were selected from countries consistently ranked in the top ten of the United Nations Sustainable Development Report (2020–2024). Selection was guided by criteria such as engagement in circular economy practices, relevance to SMEs, industrial structure similarity, innovation potential, and overall sustainability performance. The findings highlight the role of artificial intelligence in bridging cognitive gaps, Impact on SMEs, optimizing resource allocation, and improving decision- making processes between design and manufacturing. The study concludes with recommendations to implement collaborative frameworks, leveraging AI tools to achieve equal partnerships and advance Taiwan’s SMEs toward a competitive, sustainable future. Limitations include the reliance on expert perspectives and selected case studies; thus, future work should involve longitudinal studies and cross- sectoral validation to refine the proposed framework and assess measurable outcomes.
Keywords
Circular Economy; AI-Driven; Design-Manufacturing Integration; QFD Methodology
DOI
https://doi.org/10.21606/iasdr.2025.22
Citation
Liu, S., Chien, S.F.,and Su, A.Y.(2025) Future Needs and Trends in AI-Driven Design-Manufacturing Collaboration for Circular Economy, in Chang, C.-Y., and Hsu, Y. (eds.), IASDR 2025: Design Next, 02-05 December, Taiwan. https://doi.org/10.21606/iasdr.2025.22
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License
Conference Track
Track 8 - Circular/Sustainable Design
Future Needs and Trends in AI-Driven Design-Manufacturing Collaboration for Circular Economy
This study explores future needs and trends in AI-powered design-manufacturing collaboration for circular economy business models, focusing on Taiwan’s small and medium-sized manufacturing enterprises (SMEs), particularly in sectors such as textiles, electronics, and recycling-related industries. By integrating global sustainability trends and circular economy strategies, the research investigates how hybrid design and manufacturing models can drive sustainability and enhance resource efficiency. Using Quality Function Deployment (QFD) methodology, the study identifies key design requirements and translates them into technical solutions to address gaps in design-manufacturing collaboration. International case studies were selected from countries consistently ranked in the top ten of the United Nations Sustainable Development Report (2020–2024). Selection was guided by criteria such as engagement in circular economy practices, relevance to SMEs, industrial structure similarity, innovation potential, and overall sustainability performance. The findings highlight the role of artificial intelligence in bridging cognitive gaps, Impact on SMEs, optimizing resource allocation, and improving decision- making processes between design and manufacturing. The study concludes with recommendations to implement collaborative frameworks, leveraging AI tools to achieve equal partnerships and advance Taiwan’s SMEs toward a competitive, sustainable future. Limitations include the reliance on expert perspectives and selected case studies; thus, future work should involve longitudinal studies and cross- sectoral validation to refine the proposed framework and assess measurable outcomes.