The University of Warwick proudly represented OPeraTIC at the FSEM Early Career Researcher Symposium 2025, held in Coventry, UK. Prof. Volker Hessel, Dr. Jose Luis Osorio-Tejada, and Dr. Ricardo L. Mejía-Marchena from the School of Engineering, University of Warwick, lead OPeraTIC’s sustainability activities, integrating environmental, economic, and social assessments to ensure that technological innovation aligns with the Sustainable Development Goals.

As part of these activities, Dr. Ricardo L. Mejía-Marchena presented “Social Life Cycle Assessment of Laser-Based and AI-Enabled Aerospace Manufacturing,” a study conducted in collaboration with Alejandro Domínguez Núñez from SOFITEC. The research examined the introduction of laser and AI-based surface preparation in aerospace manufacturing, assessing social impacts across workers, local communities, suppliers, consumers, and society. Results showed that the new technologies outperformed the conventional process in 14 out of 21 social subcategories, with no negative trade-offs in the other 7, demonstrating that industrial innovation can create broad social value alongside efficiency gains.

This collaboration reflects OPeraTIC’s mission to advance sustainable, human-centred, and data-driven manufacturing, combining cutting-edge technology with life cycle thinking to support Europe’s green transition.