A Model for a Smart Transport Manufacturing Environment Based on Edge Computing, Fog Computing, and Cloud Computing in the South African Context

Adopting advanced transport manufacturing technologies requires a sophisticated system architecture that efficiently supports platforms and applications. Evidence from emerging countries shows that companies prefer implementing standalone domain architecture including edge for latency and real-time analytics or cloud computing for improved security and resource management efficiency forgetting the issues of bandwidth constraints and storage. IT system architecture lacks embedded green requirements whereas servers, data centres and devices generate electronic waste, carbon emissions and energy consumption impacting the environment. This paper presents a smart transport manufacturing environment (STME) model based on edge, fog, and cloud computing in the South African context. A meta-synthesis analysis was used to find computing insights and an emphatic design approach was used to conceive the STME model. Findings revealed that the three-layer computing package should be deployed altogether to support advanced manufacturing systems. The STME model indicates that the integration of green computing paradigms including energy and carbon-efficient computing into edge, fog and cloud computing optimise both production efficiency and sustainability results. However, the proliferation of energy issues, network infrastructure limitations, and network connectivity in South Africa consequently compromises the effective implementation of Industry 4.0 initiatives. Upgraded network infrastructure, connectivity, and green regulations should be provided by the government to enable industrial advancement.