n June 2025, the UK government published its Advanced Manufacturing Sector Plan as part of the wider Modern Industrial Strategy. The policy paper was developed to position the UK’s manufacturing sector at the forefront of global economic competition and security, while subsequently helping to accelerate towards net zero and clean energy goals. To align with the government’s rejuvenated
approach to sustainable manufacturing and supply chains, manufacturers are increasingly seeking new ways to decarbonise without compromising performance or cost. Indeed, managing sustainability with economic growth can often be viewed as a difficult balancing act when, in reality, they usually go hand in hand. Reducing waste, improving energy efficiency and eliminating unnecessary material consumption are perfect examples of decarbonisation pathways that also provide long-term financial benefits. One process that has a central, but sometimes
untapped, role to play in decarbonising manufacturing supply chains is quality management. However, by reducing process variation and improving product conformity, it’s safe to suggest that effective quality systems are proving to be one of the most powerful enablers of sustainable manufacturing.
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At its core, quality management is about doing things right first time. It fundamentally exists to eliminate errors, rework, alleviate waste forms and ensure consistency. In high-value sectors, such as automotive, aerospace and defence, even small defects can lead to a significant waste, incurring unnecessary consumption of additional resources, materials and energy. By embedding quality early and consistently across the manufacturing supply chain, companies can prevent the need for activities that consume resources without adding value and can achieve operational, financial and sustainable benefits. The advantages of operational excellence have
been particularly visible in the UK automotive sector. According to data from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT),
UK vehicle manufacturers have reduced CO2 emissions per vehicle by 61% since 1999, while also cutting water use per vehicle by around 47%. Even more impressively, in 2024 less than 1%
of residual material generated by automotive manufacturing was sent to landfill. These improvements were not the result of a single sustainability initiative, but of widespread adoption of lean manufacturing, process control and quality discipline, supported by strong Quality Management Systems.
Similarly for the aerospace and defence
sectors, quality management systems require organisations to take a risk management approach to quality and integrate supplier oversight, process monitoring and corrective action frameworks into their operations. In doing so, these frameworks help firms reduce non-conformance rates, avoid excessive inventory and prevent the need for high carbon logistics or remanufacture.
Digital technologies like AI, the internet of things (IoT) and virtual reality (VR) are helping accelerate the shift towards zero-defects. Real- time quality analytics platforms, IoT sensors and machine learning are enabling earlier detection of process anomalies and quality drift. These systems give manufacturers the ability to intervene before defects are produced and prevent unnecessary resource use. Predictive analytics, another data-driven
application, can identify the likelihood of future outcomes, reduce unplanned downtime and ensure optimal efficiency. High-speed, AI-supported vision inspection systems, like those utilised by G&P, further support quality control by detecting non-conformities at high
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