The automotive industry is undergoing a transformation due to changing mobility needs. Electrification is a key trend in this context. A leading manufacturer in the automotive industry has set a goal of consolidating its technological expertise in battery development across the entire company.
Challenges in the Global Production of Electrified Technologies
The challenge was to establish and expand manufacturing capacities for innovative technologies in the field of high-voltage and energy modules at international locations and to support the achievement of the company’s ambitious goals with customized, implementation-oriented processes. This effort took place amid the tension between regulatory requirements, the existing process landscape, and an ever-increasing number of technological requirements of growing complexity.
SWOT Analysis and Workshops as the Key to Process Structure
To address these challenges, a project was launched to develop the process structure and process management within the research and development department. The goal was to implement results-oriented processes as quickly as possible. To this end, a SWOT analysis was used to identify the levers with the greatest possible impact on achieving the company’s goals. In workshops conducted together with process experts from 3DSE Management Consultants, the relevant work products were identified, prioritized based on their greatest leverage, and detailed.
The Process Playbook: A Guide to Standardized and Scalable Solutions
As a result, a process playbook was developed to serve as a guide for users during implementation. Much like a quarterback’s playbook in American football, it serves as a roadmap for moving forward in a targeted manner. It outlines individual process steps, including the necessary prerequisites and dependencies, and clarifies the respective responsibilities. In face-to-face sessions involving relevant stakeholders, interfaces with surrounding process steps were also identified, and interactions were made transparent. Furthermore, 3DSE Management Consultants’ experience in results-oriented process design, their ability to highlight the aforementioned interactions, and their expertise in product development were crucial.
The customized solutions in the process playbook, developed in close collaboration with the customer, enable standardized production ramp-up and expansion across all locations. With a clear approach and well-defined responsibilities, the groundwork is thus laid for the global rollout of innovative high-voltage and energy module technologies.
