SMEs in the UK automotive sector make big efforts to curb waste

Owing to the rejuvenation of car manufacturing in the UK, there are favourable circumstances for growth.

Small and medium-sized businesses are therefore expected to come across opportunities for product modernization in new, as well as in less capital-intensive niches of the automobile industry.

The matter of the fact is that SMEs can cultivate their business with domestic and international vehicle manufacturers. They are encouraged to do so. Cost-effective car parts and designs are the natural results. The automotive sector represents the first concern for the national government as it drives economic growth. This industry generates a significant quantity of waste, contributing to the global problem. The good news is that great efforts are made in order to curb waste. For more information, please continue reading.

Introduction to automobile waste

The automotive sector consumes many resources so as to fabricate components. Examples include but are not limited to metal, glass, plastics, rubber, textiles, and paints. These materials are responsible for almost all the vehicle weight. Having a means of transport is very important for people at present, which is the reason why the manufacturing of automobiles has increased in recent times. The industrial process has the potential to produce waste.

The by-products that are eliminated fall into two categories: recyclable and non-recyclable. The elements mentioned earlier are generally repurposed.

This, in turn, helps solve supply chain shortage issues that occur during the production process. Not the same thing can be said about vinyl, which is to be found in dashboards, glove compartments, and sides of the doors, or mirrors.

Small and medium-sized businesses may benefit from some of the most skilled engineers on the globe, but they are not able to completely eliminate waste.

By-products are a normal part of the production process. It is possible though to achieve sustainable cycles and reduce the environmental impact of the business. The main idea is that the focus should not be solely on obtaining high-quality designs.

The centre of attraction should be represented by curbing waste. The automotive sector needs to take example from industry sectors saving money and reducing waste. SMEs have understood this very important aspect. What about corporations? It will take some time until they come to the conclusion that the environmental impact of unwanted material is high. The hope is that they will get a wake-up call soon enough.

Strategies adopted to curb automotive waste

Small and medium-sized business are doing their best to reduce waste amounts, as well as their environmental footprints. In what follows, we will explore the strategies that businesses in the UK automotive sector utilize to save on resources and energy. It could very lead to the waste problem being solved.

1.    Investing in waste reduction equipment

One of the primary concerns of organisations producing automobiles is waste reduction. They conserve waste and maintain productivity levels with the help of waste reduction equipment, such as balers and compactors.

Machinery of this kind makes it possible to transform the by-products into compact bales, which are easier to handle. Balers and compactors are very similar, yet there are differences between the two. To be more precise, they process different materials.

A baler is used to process things like metal, plastics, and cardboard. A compactor, on the other hand, is used to process garbage, transforming large volumes into manageable packages.

Neither balers nor compactors are difficult to operate. A baling machine, for instance, requires placing the unwanted material into it through the opening. The operation is so simple than any employee can carry it out. What happens to the waste? Well, the by-products go into a chamber where they are cut and compressed.

When enough materials have accumulated, the machine is set to make a small package. The compacting machine, on the contrary, just crushed the rubbish into smaller volumes, the outcome being that they fit into the waste collection bins.

Purchasing equipment of this kind is advantageous for small and medium-sized businesses. Advantages include cutting down on waste management costs, increasing operational efficiency, and, last but not least, saving the environment.

2.    Finding closed-loop recycling solutions

By closed-loop recycling, it is understood using the by-products resulting from the completion process in another product. It basically means using unused materials so as to maintain quality in the auto manufacturing process.

A closed-loop manufacturing system is favoured owing to the fact that it allows for waste to be recycled back in itself. It is needless to say that SMEs in the UK automotive sector have got this idea from big companies like BMW. Closed-loop recycling implies keeping an eye on the inventory and utilizing the materials from the production cycle in new automobile components. There is thus no more need to purchase additional materials.

3.    Doing proper inventory control

Raw and unused materials can turn into waste, provided that they are stored improperly or they become damaged in the process.

A quality control inventory can significantly reduce waste. Losses cost the company money, affecting the profit margin, not to mention that they are hazardous to the environment. Small and medium-sized businesses find solace even in the smallest savings, which explains why they are so eager to do inventory control. For adequate inventory control, it is necessary to:

  • Avoid accumulating large stocks of supplies – companies label, date, and check the materials as they come in the warehouse. Equally important is to keep track of receipts.
  • Acquiring supplies in bulk – purchasing much larger quantities than usual. This is not expensive and reduces the need for waste containers.
  • Choosing suppliers that agree to take back the materials – some suppliers are willing to reclaim their products, as long as they are in a good condition

Final considerations

It is clear that SMEs in the UK automotive sector are making efforts towards reducing waste. Their efforts need to be applauded. Why? Simply because they are saving valuable resources and energy, which is a great accomplishment. What is certain is that small and medium-sized businesses are setting high targets for themselves and they are perfectly capable of getting to where they want.