Sustainability
Our five-year research project aims to develop a mechanism to benchmark
and understand the sustainability performance of companies within the automotive
sector and then deliver supply chain efficiency improvements. Sustainability
performance refers to the ‘triple bottom line’ i.e. balancing the economic,
environmental and social impacts of a business in order to survive in an
increasingly competitive market place.
What’s on offer?
- We are researching and developing a
benchmarking tool to help measure sustainability issues within the
automotive sector. This tool is aimed at vehicle manufacturers and
automotive suppliers alike to help them identify and manage the
sustainability performance of their own business and supply chains,
within a self-assessment framework.
- We facilitate a process to engage supply
chains on improvement programmes. This process undertakes the mapping
of existing and future component assembly supply chains, identifies
sustainability performance opportunities, develops targets to improve
sustainability performance of the supply chain and facilitates best
practice into business processes.
- We are developing and populating a confidential
database to record results and benchmark the sustainability performance
of suppliers and supply chains.
- We are encouraging sustainability performance measurement and self-assessment
of suppliers within these supply chains.
What benefits can we bring to your business?
- Improve your business operations and supply chain efficiency by
measuring and reporting sustainability performance
- Realise the financial benefits of a leaner, more efficient company
operation
- Networking opportunities with like-minded organisations
- Achieve cost savings through increased process efficiency, more
efficient design concepts, resource usage, manufacturing processes and
end-of-life recovery costs
- Supporting the planning of your business improvement targets
- Assist the understanding of inter-relationships by mapping of supply
chains to help improve the effectiveness of the chain
- Encourage and facilitate the integration of sustainability criteria
within the supply chain using networks and diffusion of best practice
- Increase stakeholder support through positive business image
- Improved social awareness and integration of issues into business
- Improved communication throughout the supply chain resulting in
a stronger supply base
- Raised awareness of sustainability
issues and improved sourcing decision-making processes
The following groups play a major role in this project
- The Supplier Sustainability Network
(SSN) is a steering group comprising of leading automotive suppliers
and vehicle manufacturers
-
Currently, two research groups are investigating specific areas of
sustainability to identify best practice, with a third group planned
for the future. Information and lessons learnt are disseminated to
the rest of the sector. The SSN members have prioritised these
groups which are as follows:
It
is anticipated that a third group, focusing on Design for
Sustainability, will be set up in the near future. It will
comprise a diverse range of full-service suppliers and first tier
suppliers, including design / engineering expertise across all
product sectors. The objective of the group will be to develop
techniques that can be used within the design and development phase
of automotive component manufacture to improve sustainability
performance at source.
For more information please call 0845 603 1894
