ASSESS BUSINESS IMPACT WITH 

SCENARIOS

OVERVIEW

Since most of its operating units are located at a single site, ASML considers itself more exposed to disaster-related
business loss than other organizations with more dispersed production facilities. In response, the organization analyzes
how various scenarios would affect critical processes and applications when conducting its business impact analysis
(BIA). The most likely scenarios serve as the basis for the organization’s function-specific business continuity plans.

SOLUTION HIGHLIGHTS

Test critical processes under specific scenarios: The business continuity program assesses critical applications and
processes under a range of scenarios to better understand the potential impact and develop more comprehensive
response plans.

Orient business continuity plans around specific disruptions: Business continuity plans at ASML focus on a range of
scenarios most likely to disrupt a critical process, which helps leaders contextualize the plans.

COMPANY SNAPSHOT

ASML Holding N.V.

Industry: Manufacturing of ASML is a Netherlands-based company and the largest manufacturer of
Semiconductor chip-making equipment. ASML designs and develops complex technology,
Equipment metrology, and software solutions for high-tech lithography machines
2014 Sales: EUR €5.86 Billion that are used to produce chips that power electronic, communications,
2014 Employees: 14,072 and information technology products. ASML is a key supplier for the
semiconductor industry worldwide.

© 2015 CEB. All rights reserved. RISC1870515SYN

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ASML divides business
continuity documentation
CREATE A COMPREHENSIVE BUSINESS
into two types of plans. CONTINUITY FRAMEWORK
■■ Taken together, these plans
comprehensively detail
the organization’s crisis
management and business
continuity response.

Corporate Crisis Management Plan Business Continuity Plans

This is a detailed master plan outling the These function-specific guides outline
organization’s immediate response to a scenario-based continuity and contingency
crisis. measures.

Key Attributes Key Attributes

■■ Describes identification and response
procedures for a crisis event
■■ Indicates whether a detailed business
continuity plan exists for each function
Source: ASML Holding N.V.; CEB analysis.
■■ Outlines the most likely scenarios that
could disrupt critical business functions
■■ Describes and prioritizes specific
continuity procedures for those functions

© 2015 CEB. All rights reserved. RISC1870515SYN

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ASML analyzes specific
scenarios to understand
PRESSURE-TEST CRITICAL SCENARIOS
how a crisis event could
affect critical processes ASML’s BIA Process
and assets.
1 2 3
Representatives from the They then identify points of Finally, the two groups assess
■■ The impact of a scenario is
business continuity program potential business failure in those points of failure with the
assessed in conversations
and specific functions first map critical processes. longest recovery times through
between the business continuity
processes and identify key scenarios distinguished by
program and functional owners,
dependencies for production. varying degrees of severity to
with outcomes subsequently
understand the true nature of an
validated by senior leaders.
impact.

ASML’s Process for Assessing a Scenario’s Impact

ASML applies a linear set of questions to assess a hypothetical crisis event’s impact on the organization.
The outcome sets business continuity priorities.

Property Business Consequential

Incident
Damage Interruption Loss

The extent to which The extent to which The extent to which

an incident would lead
to property damage
depends on the
following:
“The BIA is used to not
only identify key
■■ Factory layout and
processes, but also to fire prevention
dive into details and identify
■■ Severity of the
critical resources, including incident
people, information, and tools.”
property damage would
lead to a business
interruption depends
on the following:
■■ Key resources, critical
dependencies, and
key assets
■■ Relocation
possibilities
a disruption leads to
loss depends on the
following:
■■ Possibility of making
up lost output
■■ Client acceptance of
a delayed delivery

Mark Konings
Director of Corporate Risk
Management Source: ASML Holding N.V.; CEB analysis.

© 2015 CEB. All rights reserved. RISC1870515SYN

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A range of scenarios tested
during the impact analysis
form the basis of business
continuity plans.
■■ By including scenarios,
business continuity owners
can contextualize recovery
tasks and adapt the recovery
response as needed.
EMBED SCENARIOS INTO CONTINUITY
PLANS
Business Continuity Plan
Illustrative
Scenario Overview
This plan is for physical events affecting the facility like fire, floods, and
severe wind, where the possible impact on production is greater than three
months.
Assumption: This plan is built around the assumption that preventative
equipment, such as sprinkler systems, are well maintained and events do
not affect suppliers.
An overview section Scenario: This plan is built around the following separate scenarios:
describes a particular ■■ A fire will break out in one section of the building and spread along
scenario.
cables and ceiling. Smoke and sprinklers will cause damage to
equipment and the power will shut down.
■■ A flood will lead to significant water damage in the building, leading
to permanent damage of select equipment.

Recovery Tasks to Be Implemented

Time to Type Object Recovery Action
Recovery
1 week Equipment Assembly Reserve tool stored at nearby
Should the events Tools site. Can be reordered from local
described in the suppliers
scenario occur, the 2 weeks Equipment Emission Reserve tool stored at nearby
recovery section Tracker site. Can be reordered from local
details the actions suppliers
necessary to respond
1 month Equipment Testing Tool takes significant lead time to
and recover operations.
Tools order and ships from abroad. A
reserve piece of equipment is stored
at a nearby site that could also be
subject to damage.

Source: ASML Holding N.V.; CEB analysis.

© 2015 CEB. All rights reserved. RISC1870515SYN

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