Automotive Chain Research Articles

A novel integrating approach to assess the role of LiFePO4 battery recycling in the automotive industries in the Greater Bay Area of China

Amidst the swift progression and extensive use of electric vehicles, demands on lithium iron phosphate (LiFePO4) batteries have surged, leading to an imminent scarcity of raw materials for battery manufacturing. This reality heightens the needs for effective battery recycling. This study outlines an integrated evaluation approach of combining laboratory-scale pilot experiment, Monte Carlo Simulations, and Life Cycle Assessment (LCA). An optimized recycling process for LiFePO4 batteries was developed, aiming to salvage and retrieve valuable elements. The process involves lithium's selective leaching followed by subsequent lithium (Li) and iron (Fe) recovery, achieving efficient recovery rates for both Li and Fe. A novel evaluation, integrating economic and environmental aspects, was conducted by employing a direct costs/revenues approach, with the inclusion of stochastic uncertainties determined via Monte Carlo Simulation. Two scenarios are applied to the electric vehicles data of Guangzhou in 2022. The recycling strategy of spent lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) within the Greater Bay Area of China (Scenario A) could potentially save 373.2 million US$, and reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 96,850 tons, compared to manufacturing batteries from mined raw materials and long-distance transportation (Scenario B). This demonstrates the importance of localized, efficient industrial automotive chain within the Greater Bay Area, which besides being cost-effective, offers profound environmental benefits. Other important factors for the result are the efficiency of the developed hydrometallurgical process, the price of the sellable material, and the transport distance. Scenario modeling results from the developed integrating evaluation clearly reveal the significant potential of battery recycling, and the innovative integrating approach has the potential for broader applicability beyond the specific context of our study.

Integration of the Automotive Chain in the Process of Transition from Fossil Fuel to Electrification in Brazil

The automotive industry is advancing with global innovations in vehicle electrification and hybridization as an adaptive response to ongoing environmental issues. Automotive automakers show concerns about these global megatrends that should impact the sector and are emphatic, especially regarding the rapid growth of solutions and business proposals that involve changing consumer behavior, especially regarding the aspect of product sustainability, as well as the new concept of vehicle use, instead of buying this. The planet does not have the capacity to withstand current patterns of consumption and, consequently, production. Aligned with this need, the work establishes corporate governance guidelines necessary for the transition from fossil fuel to electrification within the automotive chain. This paper aims to analyze the impact of the sustainable automotive chain against the perspective of electromobility in the most consolidated automotive markets, as well as in the incipient Brazilian market.

Creating value in the automotive chain: an approach from the point of view of the "smiling curve"

The active development of value chains is a logical consequence of economic modernization and an important trend in the modern world. The large-scale processes of digitalization of the economy that began in the second half of the twentieth century and the desire of the largest corporations to optimize costs led to the use of fundamentally new innovative approaches to business organization. The key feature of such approaches was the division of a complex technological process into component elements (areas of responsibility), accompanied by remote placement of production elements (including in different states). In turn, the volume of supplies of semi-finished products and the results of intermediate technological alterations in world trade increased, and the volume of finished products, respectively, decreased.

Competitive Priorities and Lean–Green Practices—A Comparative Study in the Automotive Chain’ Suppliers

For organizations to remain competitive, they must now adapt to sustainability requirements, which have become performance criteria for supplier selection for most original Equipment manufacturers (OEMs). In this sense, environmental performance is now included as a competitive priority throughout the supply chain. Therefore, this study aims to verify, through two case studies, the competitive priorities of two first-tier suppliers from the automotive chain that have adopted lean and green practices. The findings show that the quality priority is the main source of competitive advantage and the focus of the operations that are analyzed here, while the environmental priority is not considered the most important by the companies. However, it is still included as a priority. Furthermore, it is demonstrated that lean practices could generate compatibility for the environmental priority, even indirectly, while trade-offs can arise between priorities. Therefore, the integration between lean and green practices can facilitate the inclusion of the environmental priority into the operations strategy and management systems.

The Argentine automotive chain since the convertibility crisis: an analysis of its evolution and principal problems (2002–2019)

The Argentine automotive chain since the convertibility crisis: an analysis of its evolution and principal problems (2002–2019)

Technological development and peripheral industrialisation within the framework of global value chains : the cases of the automotive chain in the EU and Mercosur

O objetivo deste artigo é analisar as cadeias de valor automotivas no Mercado Comum do Sul (Mercosul) e na União Europeia (UE), com foco na capacidade de desenvolver tecnologia endogenamente, característica dos países desenvolvidos. A metodologia terá como foco a análise descritiva de variáveis relevantes para este objeto de estudo, como produção, comércio exterior e desenvolvimento tecnológico da cadeia automotiva em ambas as regiões. Os principais resultados mostram que os esforços e resultados da inovação estão concentrados no tradicional núcleo automotivo europeu; enquanto as atividades produtivas localizadas na periferia automotiva europeia e no Mercosul são dissociadas daquelas de desenvolvimento tecnológico, uma vez que a tecnologia é adotada principalmente dos países núcleos de desenvolvimento tecnológico automotivo.

The role of a leading company and different tier suppliers in the automotive chain using the example of Volkswagen

The role of a leading company and different tier suppliers in the automotive chain using the example of Volkswagen

The transition to electric mobility: opportunities for the automotive value chain in Argentina

The current transition from internal combustion engine vehicles to electric vehicles opens windows of opportunity for the repositioning of firms and countries in global and regional automotive value chains. The objective of this paper is to study these opportunities posed for the automotive chain in Argentina. The main results show that Argentina lags behind in the production and diffusion of electric vehicles and has a low deployment of the charging infrastructure. However, this transition would be an opportunity for Argentina to reposition itself in the regional automotive value chains; and its growing specialisation in pickups could position it in the nascent electric pickup market, without large, consolidated players. At the same time, there are opportunities to increase the national integration of parts and components of the electric powertrain and reduce the high incidence of imports of auto parts.

Política industrial y restricciones cambiarias. Un análisis en la industria automotriz Argentina, 2012-2015

El comercio autopartista se ha transformado en una fuente sobresaliente de déficit externo en América Latina, que plantea a la vez un problema macroeconómico y de política industrial. En Argentina, se han diseñado varias políticas para revertir este resultado, sobre todo desde la agudización del estrangulamiento externo en el periodo 2012-2015. En el estudio que aquí se presenta se evalúan los resultados del conjunto de políticas implementadas. Primero, un abordaje econométrico muestra que las medidas efectuadas no consiguieron modificar aspectos clave de la articulación internacional de la cadena automotriz. Segundo, se pretende explicar los resultados mediante la aplicación de entrevistas de profundidad a funcionarios involucrados en la implementación de dicha política.

Corporate Social Responsibility, Analysis Using the Boston College Method in a Company of the Automotive Industry in Chihuahua

The objective was to analyze the social responsibility construct through the Boston College method in a company of the automotive chain in Chihuahua from June to November 2018. The hypothesis to contrast was this: the company of the automotive chain is in its transformation stage to social responsibility. The methodological approach was qualitative, based on the inductive method and the design was transectional, descriptive and not experimental. The sampling frame and units of analysis were based on the list of personnel provided by HR; a structured interview of open questions was applied to seven hierarchical levels of the organization. The main strategic finding is that only 20% of respondents consider that social responsibility is present in the organization; this shows that the personnel is not involved and ignores that the company has social responsibility practices.

Analytical wear model and its application for the wear simulation in automotive bush chain drive systems

The wear of automotive chain drive systems after high mileages is numerically calculated based on Fleischer’s energetic wear equation. This equation is embedded in a FE-model, consisting of one single chain link only. Their time-variant positions and acting forces are taken from a multi-body simulation. A focus is on ensuring the quality of the FE-model and the contact between pin and bush, where here a penalty approach has provided a stable solution schema. The parameters of the wear model are derived from measurements. After each time increment the wear results in a changed surface geometry, which is used for the simulation of the next time increment. The enormous computation time is reduced by the development of a convenient extrapolation factor. The complex simulation approach is applied to the chain drive of a test vehicle after a mileage of about 50000 km. The comparison of the simulated and measured data demonstrates an agreeing correlation.

Returnable packaging as a sustainability factor in the automotive chain: a case study.

Packaging makes a valuable contribution to economic, environmental and social sustainability through product protection, waste prevention, enabling efficient business conduct and providing consumers with the benefits of the products it contains. The case study chosen for the work was carried out in a multinational automotive company with the objective of researching the financial and environmental factors in the substitution of one-way packages by the returnable ones during the distribution of parts for automotive dealers. There is no single solution to manage packaging waste. The best combination of options depends on local conditions, especially demographics and the degree of investment made in modern processing systems. Determining the best combination of options for managing packaging waste therefore requires detailed case-by-case analysis where life-cycle assessments can provide valuable decision support.

Automobile chain maintenance parts delivery problem using an improved ant colony algorithm

The mode of automotive maintenance chain is gaining more and more attention in China because of its advantages such as the lower cost, higher speed, higher availability, and strong adaptability. Since the automobile chain maintenance parts delivery problem is a very complex multi-depot vehicle routing problem with time windows, a virtual center depot is assumed and adopted to transfer multi-depot vehicle routing problem with time windows to multi-depot vehicle routing problem with the virtual central depot, which is similar to a vehicle routing problem with time windows. Then an improved ant colony optimization with saving algorithms, mutation operation, and adaptive ant-weight strategy is presented for the multi-depot vehicle routing problem with the virtual central depot. At last, the computational results for benchmark problems indicate that the proposed algorithm is an effective method to solve the multi-depot vehicle routing problem with time windows. Furthermore, the results of an automobile chain maintenance parts delivery problem also indicate that the improved ant colony algorithm is feasible for solving this kind of delivery problem.

A PRELIMINARY ANALYSIS OF INOVAR AUTO IMPACT ON THE BRAZILIAN AUTOMOTIVE INDUSTRY R & D ACTIVITY

Aiming to increase the competitiveness, technology and security of vehicles produced and sold by the Brazilian Automotive Industry, in 2012 the Brazilian Federal Government established the “Inovar Auto” by executive law. Given the relevance and scope of the Inovar Auto Law, this paper aims to conduct a review of the preliminary results already obtained by different companies that joined the program. Therefore, through interviews with governmental agents, R & D managers, as well as R & D public and private centers representatives, we intend to analyze the quantity and quality of R&D projects developed by the Brazilian automotive industry, with or without an external partnership, analyzing how Inovar Auto Law has influenced this result. The interviews and data presented herein suggest that the program is very promising as regards the increase in number and in quality of the R&D activities developed by assemblers, systemists and ISTs connected to the automotive chain and particularly to the energy efficiency aspects highlighted in the program.

A preliminary analysis of Inovar Auto impact on the Brazilian Automotive Industry R&D activity

Aiming to increase the competitiveness, technology and security of vehicles produced and sold by the Brazilian Automotive Industry, in 2012 the Brazilian Federal Government established the “Inovar Auto” by executive law. Given the relevance and scope of the Inovar Auto Law, this paper aims to conduct a review of the preliminary results already obtained by different companies that joined the program. Therefore, through interviews with governmental agents, R&D managers, as well as R&D public and private centers representatives, we intend to analyze the quantity and quality of R&D projects developed by the Brazilian Automotive Industry, with or without an external partnership, analyzing how Inovar Auto Law has influenced this result. The interviews and data presented herein suggest that the program is very promising as regards the increase in number and in quality of the R&D activities developed by assemblers, systemists and Institutes of Science and Technologies connected to the automotive chain and particularly to the energy efficiency aspects highlighted in the program.

Research on Automotive Design Chain Innovation

The automotive industry is an industry with high relational degree, and automotive industry has become a pillar industry. At this stage, a large number of OEM (original equipment manufacturing) cooperation made the car ownership a sharp rise. However, the independent design capacity raised limitedly, and the design capacity depend on foreign. Based on the analysis of the auto industry, this paper started from aspect research such as basic research, automotive design and management, automotive manufacturing, recycling and re-manufacturing, policy and education, and explored the major factor which impede the generation of the China's automotive design chain. And we proposed some basic solution ideas. Industrial design plays an important role in building China's "automotive design chain". In a regional perspective, we focus on the importance on institutional innovation and the five base service platforms for building the design chain, and improve the automotive design chain level.

Information management and knowledge sharing in supply chains operating in Brazil

This article seeks to answer the following research question: how do enterprises within an automotive supply chain manage inter-organisational information and share knowledge? To this end, this study offers an analysis of the state of the inter-organisational information management and knowledge sharing in a supply chain in the Brazilian automotive sector. The research follows a qualitative approach. The study revisits models by Davenport (1997) and Dyer and Nobeoka (2000) aimed to incorporate particularities from the supply chain analysis by conducting a case study in the Brazilian automotive sector. Information exchanged and knowledge shared within the automotive chain is basically operational in nature and the phenomena occur at layers: unilaterally, bilaterally and multilaterally. Power and technology are elements that need to be balanced to achieve the effective management of inter-organisational information management and knowledge sharing. This paper highlights the relation between information management and knowledge sharing in an automotive supply chain.

Computer Simulation of Hot Stamping Process of DP Steel Car Bumper Chain Based on Dynaform

Owing to the advantages of weight loss and security, duplex steel plate has been the priority for the saloon car body instead of ordinary one among a majority of engine factories. While there are undesirable phenomena because of its high strength at normal temperature, such as its formability is worsened dramatically, and failure and fracture always occur in the stamping. So hot stamping process must be adopted to make the formability available. Based on the Bumper chain of Beijing Hyundai Reina and taken DP600 high strength steel as research object, this paper analyzes the distributions of stress, strain and thickness changes during the process of sheet metal forming by using eta/DYNAFORM software, simulates the spring-back quantity after hot stamping forming, and the numerical simulation of the temperature field distribution with time during stamping process was done. The result shows that duplex steel plate can meet the performance requirements of automotive chain forming, which offers theory basis for the production of such parts.

Gestão da informação interorganizacional na cadeia de suprimentos automotiva

As empresas aumentaram os seus investimentos em TI, principalmente com a finalidade de melhorar o gerenciamento da informação. Este artigo analisa como é a gestão da informação interorganizacional (GIIO) em uma cadeia de suprimentos automotiva. Trata-se de uma pesquisa qualitativa, realizada em quatro empresas de uma mesma cadeia, e a técnica de análise de conteúdo foi utilizada nas análises. Observou-se que as informações trocadas na cadeia automotiva são basicamente operacionais, e como cada empresa analisada possui uma GIIO, conclui-se que não existe um modelo de GIIO.

Strategic Alignment in the Brazilian Automotive Chain: Relationships Between First and Second Tier

This study analysed the extent of strategic alignment in the Brazilian automotive chain byexamining the strategies adopted by the Purchasing function in the first tier suppliers for managingrelationships with their suppliers. The multiple case studies strategy was used. The theoretical modelused for analysis was based on Network Theory, in terms of its fundamental principles - actors, activitiesand resources.