A large part of the product costs is already determined during the development phase. Therefore, logistics planning must also take place before production starts. In practice, however, many companies either completely forgo explicit planning of logistics processes or do not use adequate tools.

Markus Schneider is developing an analytical cost planning model for the automotive industry that forecasts the most important logistics metrics and cost categories (e.g., transport, inventory, space, packaging, and personnel costs) years before the first production. It enables the evaluation of logistics planning alternatives, the identification and targeted optimization of the largest cost drivers, as well as the early detection of resource bottlenecks. This provides planners with a manageable and rapidly applicable calculation method that can be used alongside planning. The planning tool developed based on this work is already in practical use as part of the digital factory at various locations across all brands of the Volkswagen Group.