Selective Precision Manufacturing (SPM)

A Design-Stage Decarbonization Strategy Integrating GD&T and Life Cycle Assessment for Automotive Production Systems

Abstract

This study presents a selective precision manufacturing framework designed to reduce carbon emissions while improving production efficiency in industrial systems. The approach integrates process consolidation strategies with a structured Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) methodology to evaluate environmental and operational performance across manufacturing stages. By systematically reducing the number of process steps and consolidating operations, the proposed method minimizes energy consumption, material handling, and system complexity.

A quantitative assessment demonstrates that the framework can achieve significant reductions in CO₂ emissions and resource utilization while maintaining product quality and process robustness. The analysis includes sensitivity evaluation of key parameters and considers industrially relevant scenarios to ensure practical applicability. The results indicate that targeted consolidation of high-impact operations provides the greatest environmental benefit, particularly in energy-intensive manufacturing environments.

The proposed methodology contributes to sustainable engineering by offering a reproducible and scalable approach for optimizing manufacturing systems under environmental constraints. The findings support the transition toward low-carbon production and provide actionable insights for industrial implementation and policy-oriented decision-making.