Quantum computers get busy helping BMW optimise its global supply chain

By Matthew Griffin Connected Society 15th February 2021

WHY THIS MATTERS IN BRIEF

Ultra-powerful quantum computers are perfectly designed to help solve optimisation problems, and most global supply chains are highly inefficient.

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Back in 2019 Volkswagen became one of the first car makers to use quantum computers to optimise and manage its fleet of cars as they travelled around Lisbon during Web Summit. And now, mere months after China’s quantum computer performed a calculation that would have taken a regular supercomputer 2.5 billion years to complete in just minutes, BMW has announced they’ve using the awesome raw power of quantum computers to help them optimise their global supply chains.

The automaker says it’s working with Honeywell to help it determine the best components to buy at the right time without disrupting its production lines. While one supplier might be able to deliver components faster, similar parts might be cheaper from another supplier at the same time, as CNET notes.

The new Honeywell H1 quantum computer BMW are using can determine the most optimal selections from the available choices making it an invaluable tool in helping BMW streamline their snaking global supply chain. Tracking the availability and pricing of components from a variety of suppliers can be a complex task, especially for traditional computers, so BMW is hoping that the quantum approach can help it to improve its manufacturing processes.

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Elsewhere, BMW has announced entry-level plug-in hybrid versions of the 3 Series and 5 Series. After the 320e and 530e become available in March, the automaker will have 15 BMW models and one Mini with plug-in hybrid drive in its lineup.

Matthew Griffin / About Author

Described by NASA as a "Walking Encyclopaedia of the Future" and one of the world’s most in demand keynote speakers Matthew Griffin, Founder and Futurist in Chief of the 311 Institute, a global Futures and Deep Futures advisory firm, is a multi-award winning Futurist and strategic foresight expert, author, lecturer, mentor, podcast and YouTube host.

With a distinguished career running global business units at Atos, EMC, and IBM today Matthew helps leaders and titans of industry from all over the world explore the impact of the inter sections of technology, culture, and leadership, then helps them create high performance organisations that can continuously disrupt, outpace, and outthink their competition.

15 times author of the hit series the Codex of the Future series Matthew's ability to identify, track, and explain the impacts of hundreds of emerging technologies and trends on global business, culture, and society has earned him a powerful reputation and a roster of clients that include royal households, world leaders across the G7, G20, and G77, and many of the world's most recognised and exceptional organisations including ABB, Accenture, ABN Amro, Adidas, AON, ARM, BCG, Centrica, Citi Group, Coca Cola, Deloitte, Dentons, Disney, Dow, EY, Google, KPMG, Lego, Microsoft, Legal & General, LinkedIn, Nokia, Paramount, PepsiCo, PWC, Qualcomm, RWE, Samsung, T-Mobile, UBS, Visa, WIRED, WPP and hundreds of others.

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