Your A-Z of automotive testing success!

Map out your automotive testing techniques with a partner you can trust.

Across all elements of the automotive supply chain, there are numerous bumps in the road that need to be carefully navigated when it comes to the quality control of the various pieces, parts, and paints that get your vehicle moving. 

Wherever you sit within the world of automotive manufacturing, it’s important to accelerate your automotive testing solutions in order to design a car that will attract drivers across the world. Because right now, there are many obstacles in your way.

Ensuring parts, components, and coatings are fit for purpose requires extensive testing.

And in an industry that relies so heavily on numerous fractions getting their bit right, things can very quickly slow down if something goes wrong somewhere within the manufacturing process. Especially in today’s climate, when challenges surrounding supply chain can stall a project and leave you having to find an alternative route.

As your automotive testing partner, we like to think that we’re right there in the passenger seat with you – guiding you on your journey towards creating the ultimate vehicle for your customers.

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Gearing up for a greener road ahead

Driving forward sustainability is a core component of the automotive industry across all tiers. 

It’s something we feel strongly about at Industrial Physics – so much so that we found out more about how sustainable innovations are impacting quality control within packaging, materials, and products across a broad range of industries.

You can find out more here!

Did you know that 71% of people said that quality control was harder when dealing with sustainability?

Within the automotive space in particular, sustainable initiatives are impacting different functions in different ways.

Depending on where you sit within the supply chain, your specific response could be varied.

But the ultimate result is the same – as customers demand more eco-friendly vehicles, suppliers are forced to respond through production and supply.

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Raw materials

What are the roadblocks?

Raw material challenges are rife within automotive. From supply chain issues, to pricing challenges, to testing constraints, and to performance issues – there are a whole host of obstacles at play.

With so many different parts, components, and materials needed to make up a car, it’s hardly surprising that challenges will arise at various stages of the journey. But now more than ever, due to various economic trends, political challenges, ecological events, and pandemic-related issues, the road is that little bit bumpier.

And depending on the function you work in the disruption could impact you at a different part of the journey. So, what exactly is happening? And how is testing being impacted?

Pricing challenges

Due to the volatile economic environment, raw material prices are shifting rapidly across all areas of the supply chain. Take the tire industry – synthetic rubber and carbon black (which combined make up around 50% of the material in a tire) are manufactured using petroleum. But synthetic rubber prices can significantly accelerate in response to higher crude oil prices.

In fact, in the last five years, the cost of synthetic rubber has risen by over 25%. And while natural rubber costs less than synthetic, it’s only possible to be made in a select few countries due to the environmental conditions required for growth. Therefore, supply chain interruptions would force tiremakers across the world to use more synthetic rubber – a pricier, but necessary option.

Cost issues associated with raw materials presented themselves within our research report, ‘2022 Global Outlook of Sustainable Packaging’. In fact, 69% of respondents cited the increased cost of materials as a major obstacle to production. What’s more, inflation is making it increasingly more difficult for suppliers and manufacturers to manage costs across all overall aspects of the production chain.

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