Unravelling supply chain complexity in maintenance operations of battery production

Journal article, 2025

Europe’s emerging lithium-ion battery production sector faces immense challenges with Supply Chain Complexity (SCC). This article explores sources of and responses to SCC within maintenance operations of battery production. Using an engaged scholarship approach within automotive original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) and battery cell manufacturers in Sweden, qualitative data were collected and analysed using SCC theory. Our core findings reveal 37 sources of SCC classified by origin and type and 40 responses across four practice clusters. This study offers in-depth insights into the potential impact of SCC on maintenance operations in battery production and provides actionable guidance for managing complexity. It also identifies five future research avenues: investigating complexity interactions, matching sources and responses, exploring complexity-inducing responses, identifying internal-external interfaces and examining social aspects of SCC. In effect, the study sets the agenda for research on battery production maintenance and positions SCC as a versatile theoretical lens for understanding the emerging battery sector.