The Automotive Research Association of India (ARAI) has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with wbk Institute of Production Science at Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), Germany, to collaborate on advanced manufacturing and circular factory research. The agreement formalises joint efforts in research and development across digital production systems, circularity, quality management, and talent development.
The MoU was exchanged between Reji Mathai, Director of ARAI, and Gisela Lanza of wbk-KIT in the presence of senior members from both organisations. ARAI said the partnership is intended to strengthen India’s manufacturing ecosystem through research-driven and sustainable production practices.
Under the circularity pillar, the collaboration will focus on a “Circular Factory” model that treats products as continuous resources rather than waste. Research will address integrated production systems capable of processing both new and reprocessed products for mobility applications. The partners will also work on automated visual inspection systems using semantic three-dimensional product modelling to assess used components for remanufacturing, as well as condition-aware capacity planning methods that adjust production based on the varying condition and type of returned products.
In digital innovation, the partners will develop “Production-Informed AI” frameworks aimed at reducing product development cycles and associated costs. The use of digital twins to generate high-fidelity synthetic data is expected to enable artificial intelligence models for autonomous vehicles and manufacturing processes to be trained up to 80 percent faster compared with physical testing. The collaboration also includes development of cyber-physical systems capable of real-time process adaptation and workshops to implement edge computing in production environments.
The quality and resilience workstream will target the development of production networks designed to maintain operational continuity during global disruptions. Initiatives include networking production systems through standardised digital services under BaSys4ServiceNet concepts and research into digitally enhanced quality management systems under DAT4.ZERO protocols aimed at near-zero-defect manufacturing. Joint efforts in Laser Powder Bed Fusion will explore restoring specialised components to original functional standards using additive manufacturing.
Talent development initiatives will integrate ARAI into a network of “Learning Factories,” enabling collaborative research and training in motor and gear assembly within globally networked production scenarios. The MoU also provides for joint certification programmes tailored for small and medium enterprises seeking entry into electric mobility and fuel cell markets, along with bilateral researcher exchange programmes focused on international production engineering projects.
ARAI is an automotive research and development organisation engaged in testing, certification and research services for the mobility sector in India.