Optimizing Issue-Resolution Process: a Strategic Framework for the Automotive Development Process

Abstract

The contemporary automotive development process is defined not only by the growing complexity of vehicle systems and subsystems, but also by the interdependence of thousands of hardware and software components and the end-to-end processes required for global manufacturing and delivery. The industry operates in an environment marked by volatility and frequent supply-chain disruptions, where maintaining competitiveness has become essential. Fragmented strategic collaboration among stakeholders and uneven technological maturity across organizations negatively affect development performance. These gaps often lead to communication failures, part incompatibility, and delays that impact critical project milestones. This thesis examines key fragmentation points among stakeholders involved in the development of a new vehicle, with a particular focus on decision-making during issue-resolution activities throughout the development cycle. The research combines a theoretical analysis, grounded in literature review and benchmarking against leading automotive manufacturers, with a qualitative study based on extensive data collection and survey-based insights from four stakeholder groups: Tier 1 Suppliers, OE Developers, OE Manufacturing Plants, and Service Providers. The main findings from both theoretical and qualitative analyses provide the foundation for identifying collaboration gaps, stakeholder misalignment, and improvement opportunities in cross-organizational decision-making during the issue-resolution process. Building on these insights, the thesis proposes a Strategic Framework designed to enhance collaboration, processes, and technological integration among the involved stakeholders, fostering stronger alignment throughout issue resolution.The effectiveness and potential impact of the proposed Strategic Framework are evaluated conceptually by comparing the current state, identified through survey results, with a target state that would be achievable through its implementation.