Enabling Holistic Tracking and Tracing in Battery Cell Production: Data Management and Applications

The battery cell production, a cornerstone of the net-zero vision, is a multifaceted process chain involving diverse processes, spanning from batch to continuous to single-unit steps. The quality of the battery cell as the final product is affected by various product and process parameters along this process chain. In the era of Industry 4.0, data-driven approaches have emerged as a promising solution to navigate these complexities and derive effective quality management practices. A key prerequisite for the successful implementation is the availability of accurate data. A tracking and tracing system in battery cell production provides the foundation to acquire such data. It supports the development of a digital twin of the product, enabling real-time monitoring of key performance indicators, in-line quality control, resource optimization, and compliance fulfillment, among others. This article presents an implementation methodology and discusses the key aspects to consider for upscaling such a system focusing on data management, including relevant parameters, data acquisition, and storage, as well as data structuring and mapping. It highlights the advantages of using ontology-based data descriptions, enabling semantically mapped production environments. Lastly, this article explores potential use cases facilitated by a traceability system, emphasizing its potential to realize intelligent, data-driven production.