Automotive sector partnership set to transform manufacturing for a greener future
Metal Assemblies and Aston Business School will develop the first method to measure and report the carbon cost of metal parts in automotive manufacturing.
By applying energy-efficient strategies and Aston’s Sustainability Fitness Model, the project will future-proof Metal Assemblies' manufacturing.
The project could boost supply chain sustainability by enabling low-impact manufacturing and providing precise carbon data.
In a UK-first for the automotive supply chain, Aston Business School is teaming up with West Bromwich manufacturer Metal Assemblies to tackle one of the industry’s biggest sustainability challenges, calculating and reporting the carbon cost of every metal component used in car production.
It is hoped the Knowledge Transfer Partnership (KTP) will transform how vehicle parts are made and regulated, setting a new standard for transparency and low-carbon manufacturing across Europe. Metal Assemblies produces a wide range of machined metal components and welded assemblies, supplying Toyota, BMW and Nissan, among other manufacturers across the UK and Europe.
Cars are made up of a myriad of metal components supplied through a complex supply chain. New environmental regulations, such as the EU Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism, now require detailed data on the carbon cost of each component and place tariffs on carbon intensive goods. Developing more sustainable approaches to manufacture vehicle parts will help the sector to limit these tariffs and support efforts to decarbonise the automotive industry.
Through the three-year KTP with Aston University, Metal Assemblies is gaining access to specialist data and operations expertise. The project will design and integrate an innovative approach to energy efficiency across the company’s entire manufacturing process. This will deliver a competitive edge into the business, supercharging its plans to be the first in the sector to offer detailed carbon cost information.
As well as designing a bespoke complex data collection and analysis strategy, the project will use the University’s Corporate Sustainability Fitness Model to provide a structured framework for Metal Assemblies to assess the benefits and risks of adopting different low-carbon products and processes. This innovative method will help the company pinpoint which sustainability efforts are most urgent and cost-effective, ensuring compliance with evolving regulations and securing long-term competitiveness.
By enabling Metal Assemblies to work in partnership with customers to design more sustainable components, this innovation will equip the sector to adopt alternative, lower-impact manufacturing techniques and support carbon reduction. The project builds on a previous digital transformation KTP between the two parties to design and embed automated Industry 4.0 manufacturing processes across Metal Assemblies.
Iain Collis, CEO of Metal Assemblies, said:
“There isn’t yet a structured, robust approach in the automotive supply chain for measuring the carbon cost of parts and reporting this up the chain to customers.
“By working with Aston Business School to develop a systematic method for assessing environmental impact, we’ll be transforming this end of the supply chain in ways that provide value to our customers while differentiating ourselves from our competitors.”
Dr Breno Nunes, Reader in Sustainability Operations Management at Aston Business School, said:
“Through the Corporate Sustainability Fitness Model, we’ll be providing Metal Assemblies with a visual dashboard that clearly shows the company’s sustainability performance, trade-offs of each potential shift in their strategy, and a clear direction to take for a more sustainable future. This offers a new way to think about sustainability – one that balances short-term economic needs and longer-term sustainability requirements.”
Aston Business School offers the advanced research capabilities and specialist knowledge required to transform manufacturing processes at Metal Assemblies so they are fit for a greener future. Its team bring a wealth of expertise in data security, data analysis, and performance and impact measurement into the business, as well as a track record in supporting organisations to formulate, implement and measure sustainability. It is one of the UK’s leading business schools, ranking in the UK’s top ten and 66th in the 2024 QS World Rankings by subject for Business and Management Studies.
Knowledge Transfer Partnerships, funded by Innovate UK, are collaborations between a business, a university and a highly qualified research associate. The UK-wide programme helps businesses to improve their competitiveness and productivity through the better use of knowledge, technology and skills. Aston University is a sector-leading KTP provider, ranked first for project quality, and joint first for the volume of active projects.