Dr. Karl Breidenbach

Dr. Karl Breidenbach has more than 15 years of experience in the high-tech industry and is an expert in semiconductor management. He leads Boston Consulting Groups (BCG) semiconductor procurement consulting activities globally and is a core member of BCG’s Operations practice, as well as an adjunct member of BCG’s Semiconductor practice.

Dr. Breidenbach specializes on large-scale transformations in technology-driven supply chains, with a focus on complex outsourcing engagements in semiconductors, software, and cost reductions in R&D-focused products. He has experience in leading large-scale post-merger integrations, with a focus on synergy generation and supply chain optimization. He has also developed semiconductor management programs across automotive and industrial companies, including redesign, platform strategies, and operating model evolution.

Prior to joining BCG, Dr. Breidenbach was a Senior Director at Infineon Technologies AG where he was heading semiconductor outsourcing business development with silicon foundries and OSATs companies across all product lines and technologies. He started his career at IBM as a consultant in the Strategy and Transformation Division, where he supported clients in automotive, electronics and the process industry on IT-driven supply chain optimization.

Dr. Breidenbach holds a PhD from Bundeswehr University Munich, M.Sc in Supply Chain Management from Dublin City University & NEOMA Business School France, BA in Information Technology and International Business from Cooperative State University Stuttgart and Open University. He is also a co-author of several books and publications on operations and automotive semiconductor management and regularly lectures at international universities.

Next generation Semiconductor Management

The global semiconductor market is forecast to become a trillion-dollar industry driven by digital transformation, electrification and automation across all industries. However, the recent chip crunch and supply chain disruptions have revealed structural vulnerabilities in the electronics value chain. This presentation will discuss best practices in semiconductor management and explore how companies like Tesla and Apple have developed resilient, yet highly innovative strategies to secure their semiconductor supply. The presentation will cover topics such as modular technology architectures, optimized mix between custom developed and standardized components, transparency in the bill-of-material, supplier relationships across multiple tiers, and data-driven market intelligence. The goal is to help organizations rethink their approaches to managing their semiconductor supply and achieve the highest levels of efficiency, growth and customer service. With mega-trends such as autonomous vehicles, smart homes, and an ever-increasing proliferation of AI and cloud computing, the demand for semiconductors is only going to increase. Therefore, it’s crucial for organizations to develop a semiconductor management strategy that allows them to flexibly adapt to changes in supply and demand.