Requirements Engineering im agilen Umfeld. Konzeption einer softwaregestützten Materialbedarfsplanung im Motorsport

This master's thesis investigates how motorsport teams can efficiently manage and optimize their material requirements and inventory planning, especially in the dynamic environment of racing. The focus is on the requirements for a software solution that ensures both planning and material coverage from the headquarters of the motorsport team to the racetrack. It also demonstrates how such a solution can be integrated into an existing IT system and process workflows. As part of this thesis, the specification, introduction, and initial implementation of such software at KTM Racing MotoGP will be supported and facilitated.
In the agile environment of motorsport, planning and inventory management are particularly challenging. On one hand, the race operations are characterized by uncertainties and unpredictability, and on the other hand, the parts structure is shaped by a large variety of components and short part lifecycles due to the competitive nature of the sport. The generally dynamic environment requires quick responses and the connection of numerous information flows and sources, making efficient yet flexible inventory and requirements planning both critical and difficult. As a result, manual siloed solutions such as Excel spreadsheets are often used, leading to inefficient processes, numerous interfaces, and data redundancies. The aim of this thesis is to investigate how inventory and requirements planning can be conducted with the help of an integrated, softwaresupported solution while taking into account the mentioned influencing factors.
The central question of this thesis revolves around the requirements for such a software solution for material requirements planning, the processes that must be defined in conjunction with it, and the integration of the software into an existing system landscape. Using the example of KTM Racing in MotoGP, this demonstrates which aspects need to be considered in inventory and demand planning within a dynamic motorsport environment. Additionally, it explains how requirements for software-supported planning and the associated core processes can be derived, enabling effective planning and optimization of demand and inventory from headquarters to the racetrack.
Starting with the theoretical foundations, the theory derived from the literature, which is relevant for understanding the topics and approach discussed in the thesis, is placed in the context of the specific dynamics of the agile motorsport environment. Special aspects such as the structure of a racing team, the characteristics and classification of different types of requirements and inventory, as well as the background and processes of inventory and requirements planning, will be explained and contextualized.
Following this, the analysis and outline of an existing inventory and requirements determination process, along with the associated system landscape, using KTM Racing MotoGP as an example, forms the basis for conducting a detailed process and functional requirements analysis. The focus is on the functional requirements along the replenishment process, from the racetrack back to the KTM Racing MotoGP headquarters, in order to identify the necessary subprocesses involved.
Based on the identified functional requirements, the necessary subprocesses and activities for this process will then be modeled, described, and their interdependencies defined. The aim is to enable a software specification through the entirety of these processes.
Finally, the insights gained from the analysis, process definition, and modeling will be summarized in a potential multi-phase implementation and integration concept for an optimizing software or software landscape. This concept will address the specific aspects of the agile environment and the associated requirements for efficient inventory and requirements planning in motorsport at KTM Racing MotoGP.