Rethinking Manufacturing: Data and Sustainability

I first became aware of Marion Rouzeaud, the Global Head of Sustainability at Hexagon Manufacturing Intelligence in early 2024 when MANSUS attended the Hexagon Sixth Sense Summit. Marion was part of a panel discussion where she spoke with conviction about industrial sustainability.

I was thrilled to sit down and record this episode of Twenty Minute Talks with Marion. I wanted to find out more about her passion for the digital product passport, why she believes sustainability is essential for the industry and how advanced technologies like automation and additive manufacturing are reshaping how products are made and inspected.

Hexagon

Hexagon’s offerings are designed to help organizations manage and utilize the growing volumes of data in sectors such as manufacturing, infrastructure, and mobility. Their solutions aim to enhance efficiency, productivity, quality, and safety throughout the lifecycle of products—from the initial design and simulation stages to testing, manufacturing, and final inspection. Hexagon’s tools are engineered to optimize every part of the process.

Marion is deeply involved in advancing sustainability within the manufacturing sector. She focuses on eco-design and circular economy principles to drive innovation and transform industry practices. Since becoming the head of sustainability for Hexagon’s Manufacturing Intelligence division three years ago, she has led both internal ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) initiatives and customer-focused innovation projects.

The Impact of Manufacturing on Global Emissions

Marion set the scene by telling me that manufacturing accounts for approximately one-fifth of global CO2 emissions. She explained how the sector not only impacts its own emissions but also influences other industries, including aerospace, automotive, energy, and electronics. This interconnectedness underscores the need for a holistic approach that considers the entire product lifecycle, from design to end-of-life, to minimize emissions and environmental impact.

Designing for Sustainability: The 80% Rule

Up to 80% of a product’s environmental impact is determined at the design stage. Marion emphasized the importance of rethinking design processes to incorporate sustainability principles from the beginning. She explained that shifting from a linear to a circular approach allows manufacturers to plan for the product’s entire lifecycle, considering factors like transportation, usage, maintenance, and end-of-life management. Marion also noted that simple actions, such as training teams on eco-design and using recycled materials, can significantly reduce a product’s impact.

Advanced Technologies Reshaping Production

We explored how technologies like automation and additive manufacturing are revolutionizing the manufacturing process. Marion shared how these innovations help reduce waste, optimize efficiency, and minimize environmental footprints. Automated feedback loops and smart factory systems, for instance, allow for real-time error correction, ensuring higher quality and less waste. Additive manufacturing offers local, on-demand production capabilities, significantly cutting down emissions related to transportation and logistics.

Collaboration: The Key to Industry Transformation

Marion emphasized that collaboration is essential for achieving sustainability goals. She explained how Hexagon has partnered with Microsoft to create platforms where engineers and stakeholders can collaborate using centralized data, enhancing efficiency and connectivity across departments and manufacturing sites. Beyond internal collaboration, she stressed the importance of working with other industries and governments to establish new standards and share best practices for sustainable manufacturing.

Leveraging Data Throughout the Product Lifecycle

We also discussed the role of data in supporting sustainability throughout a product’s lifecycle. Marion introduced the concept of the digital product passport, where each product is accompanied by data about its materials, usage, and disposal guidelines. This transparency enables manufacturers and consumers to make informed decisions, promoting a circular economy where resources are reused, and waste is minimized. She highlighted that data not only helps in product development but also facilitates continuous improvement by creating an infinite learning loop.

Shared Responsibility: The Role of Consumers

Our conversation came to an end by emphasizing that sustainability is a collective responsibility. It is essential for the future health of our planet that we think holistically about the challange sharing responsibility as manufacturers and consumers. Marion encourages us to think about the critical role that consumers play a in driving sustainable practices by embracing the sharing economy and viewing products as services rather than one-time purchases. This shift in mindset helps reduce the environmental impact and promotes the longer use of products.

I thoroughly enjoyed my conversation with Marion and I think you will see that in the video. We talked about challenges and opportunities for sustainability within the manufacturing sector. Through innovative thinking, collaboration, and leveraging data, Marion illustrated how manufacturing can not only reduce its own emissions but also transform industries and positively impact society.

Twenty Minute Talks will continue to feature conversations about the future of sustainable manufacturing. If you or anyone you know want to apply to be a guest on the series get in touch with me to get the conversation started.

You can watch or listen to the full conversation wherever you get your podcasts.

Gemma Walsh Woodcock