Project Title: A Strategic Exploration of Battery Mineral Value Chains for Sustainable Innovation (Tucson, AZ)

Caterpillar Inc

Details
Project Title A Strategic Exploration of Battery Mineral Value Chains for Sustainable Innovation (Tucson, AZ)
Project Topics Corporate Social Responsibility Growth Strategy Product Design & Development Purchasing, Logistics, Supply Chain
Skills & Expertise
Project Synopsis: Challenge/Opportunity
Gain insights into the value chain of top battery minerals. Caterpillar's clients increasingly demand products which satisfy environmental factors, in additional to traditional productivity and cost factors, to align with those customers' Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) objectives. As noted in Caterpillar's Investor Day 2022 presentation, Caterpillar is actively working to adapt to these changing demands. One initiative related to this adapation is expanding knowledge about key inputs to battery development as compared to its history with internal combustion engines.The primary objective is to improve the knowledge of company leaders in the Resource Industries (mining) segment regarding the value chain for battery minerals. By doing so, we aim to improve their understanding in support better decision-making in development and implementation of future products to meet customers' needs.
Project Synopsis: Activities/Actions Required
  1. Research Battery Types and Chemistries: Conduct thorough research on various types of batteries and their respective chemistries. Understand the minerals required to produce these batteries considering their varying compositions and characteristics.
  2. Identify Key Customers and Mining Processes: Identify and analyze the key customers involved in mining the essential minerals for battery production. Explore their mining processes and understand the geographical locations of these mining operations.
  3. Examine the Value Chain: Delve into the value chain for each critical mineral used in battery production. Follow the entire journey of these minerals, from extraction at the mines to the final stages of battery development.
  4. Analyze Opportunities and Challenges: Thoroughly investigate the key opportunities within each value chain, such as potential growth areas, innovations, and market developments. Additionally, identify and assess the challenges faced at different stages of the value chains, including supply chain constraints and environmental impacts.Summarize Findings forĀ 
  5. Leadership: Prepare concise and executive-level material summarizing all the research findings. This material should effectively communicate the insights gained, enabling Caterpillar's Resource Industries (mining) segment leaders to improve their decision-making in development and implementation of future products to meet customers' needs.
Project Synopsis: Expected Results
The first deliverable will be a comprehensive long-form report that addresses the research questions in detail, providing relevant and well-documented data sets, thorough analyses, and proper citations of all sources used. It will cater to discerning, technical users, guiding them through the study with clarity and depth.|
The second deliverable will be a short-term report explicitly tailored for company executives. Ideally, this report should be around 20 minutes long, focusing on brevity while retaining utmost clarity. The 20-minute presentation will include 10 minutes dedicated to addressing questions and clarifications. The report will be authored in a manner that allows it to be presented effectively, including speaker notes, while remaining easily understandable when read electronically.

Project Timeline

Touchpoints & Assignments Date Type

Program Kickoff

Oct 09 2023 Event

Program Managers

Name Organization
Jim Cunningham University of Notre Dame

Teams

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