The NCN engages with the autosport and mainstream automotive sectors through activities such as roadmapping and foresighting in order to define future goals and targets for the industry. Roadmapping is a knowledge capture technique that defines the capabilities, technologies and products required to achieve these goals. In October 2005, NCN ran a roadmapping workshop with participants from a representative cross-section of the automotive industry which produced an initial roadmap with the following conclusions:

Technology

• Although the UK has strengths in innovation and R&D, attention needs to be given to avoid repetition of projects
• The UK is strong in the use of composites in niche areas of the automotive, aerospace and marine industries, and all would benefit from more interaction.
• Thermoplastic composites structures have the potential to replace metal parts but better processing and automation is required. There is also a gap in the integration of metals, thermosets, thermoplastics and other hybrids.
• Close attention needs to be given to the repair infrastructure, and the use of smart materials for damage assessment and correction.
• Recycling issues for composites need to be addressed, with issues such as identification, bonding and debonding, and reuse needing development work.

Skills

• Improved competence in computer aided engineering, in 'crash', durability and cost models is required.
• Many of the skills are there, but they are not in the right place. There needs to be a better coordination and improved collaboration, especially with universities.
• There is a skills gap in prototyping (although not at graduate level).
• A better skills infrastructure is needed; the supply chain is disjointed.
• Project management is poor and there is a lack of process, design and mechanical engineers.
• There is a skills gap in tooling and jigging.

Finance and funding

• Funding is inadequate for small businesses and universities. Dissemination of research results needs to be improved. 
• There is a commercial incentive to arrange the supply chain sensibly.
• For this sector, 18 month pay-backs are unrealistic.
• Tax incentives should be a greed with government that reflect trends to lower weight and increase fuel economy.
• More emphasis should be given to commercialising R&D activities with IPR protection.
• A dedicated DTI call for work in material characterisation should be a priority.
• Government funding should address
  • Durability and performance
  • High speed, high volume processing with a large demonstrator facility
  • Crash prediction and repair
  • Recycling
  • Processing issues such as performing straight to laminate, resin infrastructuring and reduced cycle times.

Awareness

• The composites community needs a strong voice (NCN)
• OEMs and Tier 1s should have a better understanding of how to engineer in composites. There is a need to redefine customer perceptions of composites.
• NCN should provide a multi-lateral design database and a 'who's who' for the sector
• Successes need to be better promoted

The full roadmap is available below as a PDF download to NCN members only. If you are not a member of NCN, you can register for free here