The aim of the IMPACT Project is to create and demonstrate an enterprise-scalable asset traceability system for manufactured components to improve just in time manufacturing and to create an extensive audit capability for components and the associated raw materials. There are two significant market opportunities being addressed by this unique new system:
1. Support for the aerospace sector where this will be a first to market solution for integrated traceability across the manufacturing supply chain (at present this is substantially a manual paper based process); and
2. Provision for component traceability which will be used to support metal theft prevention and detection (an increasingly significant problem with serious health and safety implications).
This Project will use the highly innovative Pryor matrix marking technologies to provide the component marking. The innovation for this new asset traceability system will occur as:
a) The creation of new algorithms to provide the trend analysis data on the manufacture and use of each marked component, on the combination of marked components and on their handling, sales and processing history. This information will be used to improve the manufacturing process, reduce raw material wastage, support preventative maintenance, identify usage trends, etc;
b) The creation of a globally unique identifier management system to enable a user community to assign unique marks to all assets in a multi-enterprise based supply chain irrespective of the manufacturer thereby ensuring an integrated asset traceability capability. A joint venture with the Institute of Materials will be established to create an independent third party materials tracking registry.
Key outcomes and impacts will include:
Economic - Improved life span of high value components
Environmental – Lower carbon emissions through reduced machine downtime e.g. improved output efficiency.
Social – Less transport disruption and lower crime.