Enabling a Future-Proof Planning Transformation at Volvo Cars

Automotive Manufacturing • Europe, Americas, Asia Pacific

Challenge

Volvo Cars, a global automotive leader committed to safety, innovation, and sustainability, is undergoing a strategic transformation as it shifts from traditional fuel vehicles to a fully electric future. With a portfolio spanning petrol, hybrid, and electric models - and lifecycle support extending beyond 15 years - the company's supply chain has never been more complex.

To meet the demands of this shift, Volvo Cars needed to modernise its planning processes, break down functional silos, and create full supply chain visibility.

But Volvo had learned from previous digital programmes that system implementation alone wasn't enough. Real success would require changing mindsets, building capability, and securing buy-in across a complex stakeholder network.

Solution

Volvo Cars selected Kinaxis Maestro™ as the technology foundation for its new planning landscape. But to unlock its full potential and ensure real business value, Volvo partnered with Grange as the change enablement and training specialist embedded in Volvo’s planning programme.

Grange delivered a comprehensive change and capability uplift initiative, including:

Pre-kickoff engagement workshops to align stakeholders and build early momentum

A fully tailored Supply Chain Planning 101 curriculum to upskill teams and establish shared understanding

Hands-on coaching and facilitation to introduce the Maestro platform and embed ways of working

Team building and onboarding experiences to break down silos and instil collective ownership

Ongoing change interventions to sustain energy and adjust pace where needed throughout the 20-week blueprinting phase

Grange's cultural fluency, practical mindset, and hands-on support proved vital to keeping the programme moving forward.

Impact

With Grange guiding the human side of the change, Volvo Cars achieved several key outcomes:

Highly Engaged Project Team

Ready to adopt and advocate for new planning methods

Stronger Cross-Functional Collaboration

Across supply chain, operations, and technology teams

Sustained Project Momentum

During a complex, multi-party blueprinting phase

Culture of Shared Responsibility

Replacing legacy silos with system-wide thinking

Importantly, Grange's support helped Volvo move from siloed, sequential planning to a concurrent, scenario-based approach powered by Maestro - with real-time agility and tangible business benefits.

Business Results Enabled by the Programme

Thanks to the combined Kinaxis-Grange solution, Volvo Cars achieved:

Reduced Premium Shipping Costs

Through better visibility of supply disruptions

Lower Material Costs

And inventory write-offs

Time Savings

Planners saving hours per task via automated insight generation

Increased Revenue per Planner

Enabled by smarter planning and margin protection

System Consolidation

Consolidation of 20+ legacy systems into a modern, adaptable digital core

Grange's change management capability was not an optional extra - it was a critical success factor.

Customer Quote

"This wasn't just a system implementation - it was a transformation across the business. Grange played a critical role in helping us bring people along for the journey."

"Their training, team engagement, and change support made all the difference in sustaining momentum and building a future-proof foundation."

- Adam Sutherland, Transformation Programme Manager, Volvo Cars

Project Overview

Customer

Volvo Cars

Sector

Automotive Manufacturing

Regions Covered

Europe, Americas, Asia Pacific

Focus Area

Kinaxis (Maestro™) Implementation, Change Management, Team Enablement

Key Results

Reduced premium shipping costs

Lower material costs & inventory write-offs

Hours saved per planner task

20+ legacy systems consolidated