Exporting models including part/family materials

Exported models contain the part family definition which references material assignments for visualisation. On export the part/family definition remains but obviously the material palettes do not export alongside, meaning that model representation is limited to the 'model' symbology(colour) 

Is there a method that enables Part/Family material assignments to be exported as part of the model? ie, can I make materials local and attach to elements prior to final export or some other method like this? This would greatly improve the fidelity of the exported models and allow federated models (whether within navisworks or Bentley navigator) to represent their materials as intended.