Towards a resilient battery supply chain Strategies and enablers for managing vulnerabilities and enhancing resilience for a Swedish Automotive OEM
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Författare
Typ
Examensarbete för masterexamen
Master's Thesis
Master's Thesis
Modellbyggare
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Sammanfattning
The automotive industry is characterized by highly competitive environment that is rapidly developing.
One of the most current innovative drivers is electrification, which has shifted the focus from internal
combustion engines to electric motors as the main propulsion technology. The demand of electric
vehicles is rapidly growing and the European automotive industry must adapt accordingly to follow the
electrification journey. Also, the success of this transition is heavily dependent on the availability of
batteries as the energy storage system that powers electric motors, as well as their corresponding raw
materials and required manufacturing processes. Ensuring these crucial factors is therefore an aim that
OEMs strive for since it is essential for remaining competitive in the automotive industry. However,
there are vulnerabilities in the battery supply chain that inhibits the secure supply of batteries for
electric vehicles and instead contributes to a fragile supply chain that is susceptible to disruptions. One
way to counter this issue it is to increase the level of supply chain resilience through identifying the
relevant supply chain vulnerabilities, addressing them through supply chain resilience enablers and
shaping supply chain resilience strategies accordingly. To aid in this endeavor, this thesis explores two
battery supply chains that a Swedish automotive OEM is interested in. Through literature reviews, a
case study, internal validation sessions, interviews with external industrial experts and a workshop, this
thesis concluded that there are seven battery supply chain vulnerabilities, of which five were of main
interest, and seven supply chain resilience enablers that formed three battery supply chain resilience
strategies. The strategies can be considered to, in line with the theoretical framework of supply chain
resilience, increase preparedness for potential disruptions, being able to respond promptly during
disruptive events and having the ability to recover from disruptions. Furthermore, this thesis proposes
four key propositions to support the OEM in enhancing battery supply chain resilience. Firstly, it
suggests evaluating the current state of battery supply chain resilience. Secondly, the OEM should
consider implementing the identified strategies, either partially or in full. Thirdly, the potential impact
of these strategies should be highlighted. Finally, a roadmap for the implementation of the strategies
should be created. By following these recommendations, the OEM can strengthen its battery supply
chain resilience.
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Ämne/nyckelord
automotive industry, electrification, battery supply chain, supply chain resilience, raw materials for batteries, supply chain resilience enablers, supply chain resilience strategies