Transferring Sustainable Manufacturing Knowledge

Empowering supply chains and SMEs with the tools for sustainable design, digital product passports, and circular manufacturing.

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Abstract visualisation of manufacturing knowledge transfer and technical blueprints

About the Project

The TranSMKnow Project

TranSMKnow was established to support sustainability in global electronics by enabling better informed decisions during the upstream phases in the design and production of electronic components found in many typical products destined for European markets.

A key TranSMKnow aim was to support, train and build confidence in upstream suppliers in Vietnam in adopting sustainable practices for manufactured electronic components. To enable this, TransMKnow leverages knowledge transfer as a strategic incentive that can bridge the gap from high transition costs typical of traditional manufacturing practices, to sustainable design and manufacture. Information sharing and knowledge transfer have long been established as key and powerful strategic levers to incentive and support change in value chains.

TranSMKnow seeks to develop a set of transferable sustainable design and manufacture tools based on DFD principles through ‘make by doing’ training. Learning to transition to sustainable electronics is more likely to be successful if it involves information and knowledge sharing on the ‘how’s’, in a way companies (e.g. Vietnamese SME’s) can relate to, using manufacturing and design processes they are familiar with or can be adapted to fit their resource capabilities (workers, machinery, etc). By demonstrating ‘how’, with the assistance of AI tools that combine information and knowledge from direct manufacturers/users/recyclers’ experiences and insights, and underpinned with sustainable design and manufacture principles, the project seeks to support an engaging and long-lasting transition to manufacturing sustainability learning and mindset.

Given, the predicted upward trajectory of global e-waste, TranSMKnow is strategically aligned with current EU sustainability drives and needs, as it seeks to bridge the gap between academic innovation in sustainable manufacture, and industry practice in global electronics supply chains, via a repository of ‘tried and tested’ knowledge transfer tools.

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