This paper has through empirics and dialogue with industry experts and practitioners collected industrial circular battery production challenges that call for research and development. By workshop visits to vehicle companies and focus group discussions with professionals and researchers in Swedish manufacturing research and development clusters, both general challenges and specific circularity challenges for battery production with focus on cell to module and cell to pack were discussed and analysed. Further research paths for the future were concluded. A joint view of circularity development of the product design and the production system design may be beneficial. Researchers who seek industrial impact may combine detailed development with systemic research together with practitioners

This paper presents a retrospective case study comparing a life cycle cost analysis performed ten years ago with the actual cost outcome between 2014–2023. It does so to exemplify and problematize the notion of uncertainty. Through an industrial case it gives recommendations to practitioners how to reduce it. By a quantitative cost follow-up and a qualitative focus group study with key representatives of the case company the paper sets out to code sources of uncertainties, and to categorize these into either epistemic/aleatoric and into internal/external. The paper contribution is a suggested framework on management of uncertainties in industrial LCC

As battery technologies become central to the global energy transition, optimizing their performance during first-life use is essential for maximizing value and enabling circular economy pathways. First-life electric vehicle (EV) battery operations—including deployment, usage, maintenance, and early-stage diagnostics—are increasingly influenced by advanced digital technologies, data management practices, and artificial intelligence (AI). Despite rapid technological advances, significant research and implementation gaps remain in integrating data-driven approaches and AI models into operational decision-making and lifecycle optimization. This paper addresses these challenges through an exploratory qualitative study, drawing insights from three expert workshops involving battery ecosystem actors. Our analysis identifies four key thematic areas: (1) battery lifecycle optimization, (2) risk and responsibility distribution, (3) data ownership and interoperability, and (4) AI deployment and cybersecurity. The findings highlight tensions between short-term operational cost-efficiency and long-term battery health, the fragmentation of risk management responsibilities, and growing concerns around data sovereignty and AI system integrity. Based on these insights, we propose a guiding framework for smarter first-life EV battery operations, structured around four pillars and supported by four cross-cutting enablers. This study contributes to the emerging discourse on battery circularity by advancing the understanding of strategies for smarter first-life battery operations.

Purpose: When faced with severe crises or war, Swedish authorities need to adaptively secure supply of critical components for their operations. They are in this dependent on industry’s production system and supply chain (SC) network. When critical shortages occur, alternatives need to be investigated and developed quickly. This paper aims to present a methodology and way of work to review SC alternatives and developing solutions when an acute shortage is at hand. Design/methodology/approach: The paper presents action-research based work, performed within a project developing resilient SC-management. An iterative scenario workshop approach was applied to develop and test the methodology. The workshops were performed in a simulated crisis-situation setting. Participating authorities oversaw infrastructural functions and a simulated component shortage, while a cross functional team of researchers and experts applied the methods to find solutions to the situation. The workshop goal was to find and develop several parallel solutions to each shortage situation. Between workshops, literature search, discussion and trials with practitioners, and cross functional process development was done. Findings: The findings resulted in a guideline for the process from identifying a need to initiating parallel solutions to resolve a shortage. Available materials, production techniques, and critical product-specific characteristics were identified and investigated within the workshops. The solutions were based on four main redesign concepts: •Re-sourcing/Sourcing of equivalent product(s) •Reuse via washing/repair/recycling •Reverse engineering - copying existing product •Product development - developing a new product Research limitations: The conducted workshops were designed with predefined specific conditions, such as national localization for solution application, logistical challenges, and import restrictions. Practical, managerial and societal implications: The research was part of a larger research project where the aim was to support Swedish authorities in their development of resilience and security of supply. Both practical results and methodological development of how to perform supply chain scenario workshop simulations will be used by authorities. Original/value: There exist several studies on how to proactively redesign supply chains to be more resilient, but less papers focus on how to redesign the supply when shortage occurs in crisis situations. This paper contributes with empirical research on such situations. Keywords: Emergency supply, Scenario workshop simulation, Action research, Supply chain resiliens

Rapporten är resultatet av en studie som genomförts av RISE på uppdrag av Fortifikationsverket och MSB. Studien syftade till att stärka Sveriges förmåga till inhemsk produktion av kritiska produkter och komponenter vid kriser och höjd beredskap. Bakgrunden till projektet är det försämrade säkerhetsläget och erfarenheter från coronapandemin som visade på sårbarheter i globala leveranskedjor. Rapporten presenterar en strukturerad metod för produktionsomställning vid försörjningsbrister, där samverkan mellan myndigheter och näringsliv är central. Fokus ligger på alternativ produktion, snarare än traditionell lagerhållning, för att säkerställa tillgången på skyddsprodukter och reservdelar till samhällsviktig infrastruktur. Viktiga delar i processen är kartläggning av kritiska produkter, försörjningskedjor och svensk produktionskapacitet, samt utveckling av försörjningsstrategier som inkluderar återbruk och alternativa material. En tydlig metodik för nödproduktion redovisas, där målbild, kravspecifikation och produktionskapacitet analyseras systematiskt. Slutligen betonas vikten av säkerhetsskydd, scenarioplanering och samordnad styrning för att snabbt kunna skala upp produktion vid kriser. Rapporten är ett bidrag och verktyg för fortsatt utveckling av Sveriges försörjningsberedskap.

In unsecure times, authorities responsible for societal infrastructure and services need to further explore and develop alternatives of their current supply chains. Swedish authorities have been tasked to analyse and increase security of supply for critical products and components. For many types of products and parts it may be an option to start, or ramp up, local emergency production in time of crisis. When it comes to electronics products they often have long and global supply chains why it may be difficult to source and produce locally, thus remanufacturing or refurbishing may be a viable emergency production option. A managerial question to research here is when remanufacturing is a viable emergency production option and what obstacles exist to prepare for such emergency production. In this study of two cases of electronics small-scale remanufacturing in Sweden is presented. Case company A is a lego-remanufacturer who remanufactures mainly spare parts on contractual basis for several industries. Case company B is an original equipment supplier of power electronics and mainly produce new modular products, but as a service to regular customers they also take back and remanufacture old modules. The two cases conceptualize two major options to consider in securing local electronics supply when global supply chains have failed. The case companies' different situations are discussed together with previous findings in literature.

Many critical healthcare single use products are made abroad from fossil based non-woven materials and are sent for combustion after use. This study aimed to find opportunities and hindrances for more climate friendly, resilient, and circular supply chain solutions for these products. There are many studies pointing to sustainability by using recycled and renewable raw materials and improving recyclability of plastics. Non-woven materials, and especially in healthcare, suffers from several challenges and some opportunities in the needed circularity development. Design/methodology/approach: The study included actors from material production, product manufacturing and use phase. Together with researchers, tests were performed in collection of used materials, cleaning, and tests of new raw materials. Statistics and life cycle assessment data were used to estimate carbon footprint improvement potentials and focus group workshops with professionals, were used to discuss opportunities and hinders. Findings: The non-woven products used in healthcare give a significant climate impact. Holistic multi-disciplinary research is needed. Logistics, and disinfection technologies needs development for healthcare of non-woven products. Solutions for high-mix, low volumes of plastic recycling need further research. Circular transition in the healthcare sector and public procurement is desirable. Practical, societal and research implications (if applicable): By using both recycled and/or bio-based materials that can then also be recycled in the next stage, there is a potential to reduce carbon emissions by over 75%. Original/value: The study contributes empirical research along the whole circular value chain, showing practical tests connected to theoretical analysis and data on flows. Keywords: Non-Woven, Circular supply chain, Reversed logistics.

Projektet har studerat sårbarheter i försörjningen av kritiska material och produkter vid kris eller konflikt, men också möjligheter till stärkt nationell resiliens. Genom fallstudier och systemanalys har projektet undersökt hur Sverige kan öka sin förmåga att snabbt ställa om och säkra tillgången till viktiga komponenter inom vård, skyddsutrustning och elektronik.Projektet har fokuserat på följande materialområden: plast, metall och elektronik. Plast är till stor del fossilbaserad och har låg återvinningsgrad, metaller kräver ofta importerade legeringsämnen trots goda inhemska resurser och dagens elektronikproduktion är starkt globaliserad med låg självförsörjningsgrad. Samtidigt finns betydande inhemsk kapacitet inom flera områden –exempelvis plastformulering, metallbearbetning och elektronikmontering – som kan mobiliseras vid behov.Fallstudier på medicintekniska produkter visade att additiv tillverkning (3D-printing) kan bidra till snabb omställning men har begränsningar i materialval och produktionsvolym. För formsprutning, som traditionellt har längre ledtider, kan dessa reduceras kraftigt genom effektiv samverkan och parallella arbetsmoment. En ny produkt designades, verifierades och producerades inom 60 timmar – ett tydligt exempel på hur svensk industri kan agera snabbt vid behov.För munskydd klass IIR genomfördes nödproduktion med testning enligt gällande standarder. Nationell kapacitet finns för vissa non-woven-material, medan man för andra är beroende av import. En mobil produktionslinje testades och utvärderades genom sårbarhetsanalys, vilket visade att även små enheter kan bidra till märkbart ökad resiliens.Inom elektronikområdet identifierades flera utmaningar. Fallstudien på växelriktare visade att återtillverkning och reparation är möjligt med rätt kompetens och tillgång till komponenter. Många delar kan återanvändas från konsumentelektronik, men avancerade halvledarkomponenter kräver import. Inhemsk kapacitet finns för mönsterkort, transformatorer och montering, vilket ger goda förutsättningar för decentraliserad produktion.Rapporten presenterar även metoder för att utvärdera resiliens – både kvalitativt och kvantitativt – där samspelet mellan teknik, organisation och kompetens är avgörande. Genom att identifiera svaga länkar, bygga redundans och träna personal kan svensk försörjningsförmåga stärkas. Slutsatsen är tydlig: Sverige har kapacitet och kapabilitet att bygga ett mer motståndskraftigt system, men kräver strategiska investeringar och samordning.

För att stötta företag att bli mer hållbara och hjälpa dem att bli resilienta och mindre sårbara behövs stöd. Stödet måste vara enkelt att förstå och innehålla tydliga steg som är anpassade till målgruppen. Denna dokumentation beskriver hur metoden Utvärdering av resiliens och sårbarhet i produktion ska genomföras och inkluderar förberedelser, uppföljning, exempel och fördjupningsinformation som kan behövas. Syftet med rapporten är att öka resiliensen i ett företag genom att identifiera och adressera sårbarheter i produktionsprocessen. Metoden består av fyra steg och ett förberedande steg som är lätt att tillämpa och fördjupande analyser kan genomföras genom att ytterligare undersöka till exempel materialflöden, subkomponenter, supply chain och kompetensförsörjning.Målgruppen för Utvärderingen av resiliens och sårbarhet är coacher eller yrkesverksamma som vill utvärdera sin produktionsanläggnings resiliens och sårbarhet. Utvärderingsenheten är en producerande fabrik men metoden kan genomföras på flera produktionsanläggningar eller en hel försörjningskedja. 

This chapter describes how to embrace participation and digital technologies in the manufacturing industry. A framework, PArticipative Readiness Level (PARL) was designed to support companies to work concretely with organizational aspects, the operator role and the production system and ranges from -1 to 5. PARL was based on six theoretical concepts: participative innovation, participative safety, intelligent teams, operator 4.0/operator 5.0, digital literacy and lean. Three cases were used to show how PARL can be used to support companies in reaching Industry 5.0: 1) onboarding for a battery manufacturing process through immersive training, 2) efficient safety work in the forest industry and 3) emergency production for manual assembly of face masks. PARL was useful in describing the current state as well as for identifying the next steps for companies to boost wide participation as well as how to embrace digital technologies.