Evaluation of Sustainability Data Visualisation in the Manufacturing Industry : A Design Proposal for a Sustainability Dashboard at Sandvik Coromant

Abstract: The awareness of the importance of sustainability in the manufacturing industry has increased over the past decade. An integral aspect of sustainability is the focus on circularity. Implementing a circular economy within a manufacturing company involves reducing the reliance on virgin materials, minimising resource consumption, and recycling or reusing materials for further production. However, only a few companies have developed a clear visualisation of their circularity efforts targeted towards customers. This thesis aims to investigate the most effective methods for visualising circularity data and to create a design prototype for Sandvik Coromant, a prominent metal-cutting manufacturing company. The research approach involves conducting interviews, reviewing relevant literature on circularity and data visualisation, and conducting design tests for Sandvik Coromant’s prototype. The findings of this study indicate a growing demand for circularity visualization in customer relations at the company. Additionally, further research is required on circularity within the manufacturing industry. It was also discovered that adherence to established guidelines for graphical integrity and usability is crucial when developing interactive visualizations. Lastly, standardizing visualizations for multiple manufacturing companies proves challenging due to variations in data points and the diverse nature of circularity practices across companies. Developing a standardised visualisation for a company’s circularity efforts is significant from an ethical and commercial standpoint. While the design prototype created in this study can serve as a template, customisation to fit the specific needs and circularity work of each company is essential for its effectiveness.