The EU’s manufacturing sector employs around 30 million people and represents approximately 22 % of global manufacturing output.  To make manufacturing more sustainable and effective, the industry must significantly reduce its carbon footprint and amount of waste and optimize recycling.

Therefore, the ZDZW project addressed defect minimization and waste reduction in three key areas covering the entire manufacturing process and product life cycle, building on the work of the predecessor project ZDMP.

The project developed a catalogue of IoT-based non-destructive inspection (NDI) technologies that enable accurate in-line assessment of key product parameters. These impact quality requirements in various technical areas, such as: part integrity, visual requirements, and thermal process efficiency. The aim was to increase efficiency and process quality (cost and material efficiency, reduction of defects and waste throughout the manufacturing process) and improve monitoring, control, repair, sustainability, etc. across the entire production line.

ZDZW demonstrated its zero-defect (ZD) and zero-waste (ZW) approach in 6 pilot projects involving production processes with high waste reduction potential (injection moulding, thermoforming, welding and painting, induction hardening, lithography and packaging) in key industries such as automotive, home appliance manufacturing, renewable energy, e-health, and food and beverages.

Within the consortium, DIN was responsible for the standardization activities. This particularly included the preparation of an overview of standards relevant to ZDZW, the development of CEN Workshop Agreements (CWA) on the principles and requirements of the zero-defects manufacturing with the consortium partners and other interested experts.

Project results

In the course of the project, the project partners worked with other interested parties to develop a European standardization document (CEN Workshop Agreement): CWA 18230:2025 Zero Defect Manufacturing – Basic Principles and Requirements

For further information please see: https://www.zdzw-project.eu/

Project duration

09/2022 – 08/2025

Project coordination

• IKERLAN S. COOP (ES)

Project partners

• INNERSPEC TECHNOLOGIES EUROPE SL (ES)
• DIRA RELIABILITY S.L. (ES)
• INSTITUTO TECNOLOGICO DE INFORMATICA (ES)
• UNIVERSITAT POLITECNICA DE VALENCIA (ES)
• ASOCIACION DE INVESTIGACION METALURGICA DEL NOROESTE (ES)
• GRI TOWERS GALICIA, S.L. (ES)
• ZABALA INNOVATION CONSULTING SA (ES)
• SOFTWARE AG (DE)
• FRAUNHOFER GESELLSCHAFT ZUR FOERDERUNG DER ANGEWANDTEN FORSCHUNG E.V. (DE)
• DIN DEUTSCHES INSTITUT FUER NORMUNG E.V. (DE)
• EURA AG (DE)
• AIRCODE UG (DE)
• SIMULARGE BILISIM VE MUHENDISLIK TEKNOLOJILERI AS (TR)
• SIEMENS SANAYI VE TICARET A.S. (TR)
• ARCELIK A.S. (TR)
• DANMARKS TEKNISKE UNIVERSITET (DK)
• NORBLIS APS (DK)
• VIDEO SYSTEMS SRL (IT)
• ILLYCAFFE S.P.A (IT)
• INFORMATION CATALYST FOR ENTERPRISE LTD (UK):
• VIVID COMPONENTS LTD (UK)
• YORAN IMAGING LTD (IL)
• LITHOZ GMBH (AT)
• GLNPLAST SA (PT)

Project funding

Funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the European Health and Digital Executive Agency (HaDEA). Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them.