STRATEGIES
Embedding PLM into manufacturing Tom Salisbury is Director of Sustainability at GKN Automotive , a motor vehicle components manufacturer with a 260-year timeline .
GKN produces automotive driveline technology and is a key developer of eDrive systems for hybrid and fully electric vehicles .
“ WHEN WE ’ RE SELLING A SIDE SHAFT TO A CUSTOMER , THEY ARE INCREASINGLY WANTING TO KNOW WHAT THE CARBON FOOTPRINT OF THAT IS ”
TOM SALISBURY DIRECTOR OF SUSTAINABILITY , GKN AUTOMOTIVE
Tom , who was planning to work with NGOs before a sustainability team internship at SABMiller turned his head , has been working in the sector for 15 years .
He says : “ My role at GKN Automotive is to oversee our sustainability strategy , making sure we are on track against our targets and really embedding sustainability across the organisation .”
However , it is no longer enough for a business to put its own house in order : Scope 3 reporting means there is a broader responsibility for supply chain emissions .
Tom says GKN ’ s customers are “ wanting to drive sustainability through their supply chains . And we need to make sure that we not only deliver on that , but actually see that as an opportunity to differentiate our business as well .”
The supply chain challenge is exemplified by the EV market , Tom says .
“ EVs have much less carbon emissions associated with the use of that car than a traditional internal combustion engine vehicle .
“ What that means is , as a proportion , it ’ s then really more about the materials and the supply chain .
“ The focus is shifted from the car to the supply chain .”
Product sustainability office Realistically , there is no way to effectively decarbonise manufacturing without PLM processes .
Tom says GKN has embraced PLM by , for example , setting up a product sustainability office within its engineering function .
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