As development cycles in the automotive industry become shorter and shorter – not least because of the rapid development of electromobility – there is an increased need to evaluate the sustainability of systems and component designs. Within a life-cycle analysis (LCA), the fka analyzes new designs of its customers and evaluates their future viability:

1. At the beginning of an LCA, fka first conducts an individual environment analysis for the customer. Here, for example, the focus can be on lightweight construction in the vehicle, CO₂ legislation or regulations for sustainable product and process design.
2. In the course of defining the LCA objective and the relevant analysis dimensions, fka selects the procedure according to ISO 14040 to 14044, and, with the Life-Cycle Inventory, it determines the exact scope of investigation at the system and component level.
3. In the following, detailed process-level lifecycle analysis, the relevant manufacturing processes are analyzed, including company-specific information and data. A subsequent projection on the entire vehicle level allows us to consider different vehicle concepts, especially in the usage phase.

The result is an integrated energetic and ecological evaluation of the product and process. By means of a sensitivity analysis, fka can validate basic assumptions and variables. A final interpretation of the results provides the customer with concrete recommendations for a sustainable product and process design.

Patent analyses and evaluations are gaining in importance as international competition intensifies and development cycles become shorter and shorter.

fka assists its clients in securing strategic business development by analyzing national and global patents and assessing them at system and component levels. During the analysis, it identifies potential competition technologies and evaluates the current competitive situation on the basis of the generated information.

As part of the patent analysis, the following process steps can be used to obtain relevant and meaningful information:

• Extensive technology analysis to build up relevant system and component understanding.
• Identification of IPC’s patent classes with high relevance for considered technology with our own IPC Patent Class Identification Logic.
• Analysis and evaluation of identified patents in identified IPC patent classes by using our own evaluation routine.
• Description of the state of the art of the technology field under consideration and identification of potential alternative technologies.
• Analysis of the competitive situation and supporting the results through interviews.

As a result, the customer receives a detailed result matrix of the evaluated patent information, on the basis of which the patent portfolio can be optimally evaluated and strategic business areas secured.

In the context of ever faster changing market scenarios – due to shorter development cycles and new, disruptive technologies – regular market analyzes are more important than ever.

In its market analyses, fka consistently pursues the goal of systematically recording and assessing all relevant influences on the market under focus. Central elements here are the analyses of legislative framework conditions as well as of customers and competition, all of which are carried out in conjunction with well-founded technical vehicle expertise. Particularly in the analysis of highly specific market segments, fka benefits from its know-how – from the individual component all the way to the complete vehicle.

The analysis is usually divided into five phases:

1. To determine the legislative framework, fka covers all relevant legislative activities that may have an impact on the registration, operation and operation of vehicles or relevant systems, e.g. emission regulations.
2. For customer analysis, decision models are first used to determine and quantify relevant influencing parameters, e.g. purchase decision models for individual drive systems. In an extensive competition analysis, we identify (potential) competitors and compare them in terms of their technological and economic performance, e.g. to prepare for strategic cooperation.
3. The results of the market analysis can already be used to derive valuable, qualitative statements about the market under examination. In addition, if quantitative statements, e.g. sales forecasts or estimates of future market allocations, are necessary, fka can draw on their years of experience and expertise in creating quantitative market models. Examples of such models are fleet models in the context of global CO₂ regulation or sales forecasts for vehicle components as well as individual materials.
4. By appropriately combining the gained insights, fka can first derive a model of the addressed market. Both the model boundaries as well as the level of detail of the respective task can be adjusted. In coordination with our customers, we parameterize and validate the model.
5. The result: Thanks to final calculations or simulations, e.g. with the help of the scenario technique, fka can precisely determine the results and analyze their implications for the customer's business model.

Particularly in the analysis of highly specific market segments, the customer benefits from the fka’s know-how for the entire vehicle. This 360° view helps us to classify specific analyzes into the current market situation, even with a high degree of detail.