Mapping working capital models in the automotive industry

Abstract

This paper analyses working capital models applied by companies in the automotive industry. The paper contributes to the emerging research stream of financial supply chain management and provides support for improving inter-organisational working capital management. The data for the observation period 2006-2015 has been collected from the financial statements of 41 companies operating in the automotive value chain. The paper introduces a WCM matrix which can be used to identify and map working capital models in the value chains. The results showed that different working capital models are applied within the value chain stages, and two thirds of the companies reduced their working capital during the observation period. The WCM matrix positions the companies in the preferred context by their working capital management and shows how the working capital of companies is formed. The paper is based on an extensive set of real-life financial figures and offers new insights for studying working capital models in the value chains.