Prof. Dr. Karsten Kieckhäfer

(in the fields covered by the research center)

The focus of our research is on the development of quantitative planning approaches for designing and controlling industrial production and logistics systems from a sustainability-oriented viewpoint. We concentrate on the following topics in particular:

1. CO₂-neutral production, logistics and mobility

In the face of the inexorable progress of climate change, issues relating to the reduction of CO₂ emissions are becoming increasingly important. Over the medium to long term, the aim is not only to conduct our activities in a CO₂-neutral manner, but also to comply with the existing CO₂ budgets derived from the Paris Climate Agreement, on the way to achieving this. In this context, we identify technological and organizational alternatives for reducing CO₂ emissions in the areas of production, logistics and mobility, evaluate their potential to achieve reduction targets, and develop economically viable transformation paths based on these. We also analyze the consequences of (environmental) policy measures from a business perspective, particularly in the automotive market.

2. Resource efficiency and recycling

Global growth in demand for natural resources continues unabated. This applies in particular to industrial metals, which are an indispensable component of any comprehensive transformation toward green technologies such as electric vehicles, solar energy, and wind power plants, as well as hydrogen applications. In this respect, we are confronted with increasing shortages of important raw materials and, accordingly, price increases. To counteract these developments and, at the same time, reduce environmental impacts, we examine business management issues and concepts that focus on using resources more efficiently as well as on recycling products, components, materials, and raw materials. Currently, our focus is on resource and material flow management, the development of resource-efficient distribution strategies, and the planning of recycling networks.

3. Sustainable Supply Chains

When designing sustainable supply chains, taking all activities and all players in the areas of raw material extraction, production, transport, distribution, use, reuse, recycling and disposal into account and evaluating them according to their environmental, economic and social impacts is a crucial aspect that must not be neglected. In this context, we combine network planning approaches with sustainability assessment issues to facilitate the design of sustainable supply chains. In addition to this, we are looking at existing interdependencies between sustainability and the resilience of supply chains in light of various factors, in particular compliance with minimum environmental and social standards or corporate due diligence obligations.