Automotive Supply Research Articles

Tracing the technology transfer of battery electric vehicles in China: A patent citation organization network analysis

Technology transfer is an active process in which advanced technologies are transferred between two different actors. In a fiercely competitive environment, the development and commercialization of new technology, such as battery electric vehicles (BEV), increasingly depend on technology transfer across organizational boundaries. To further explore technological transfer across organizations, it needs to combine the related information with patent citations. However, the existing literature usually ignores the diversity and difference of patent citations across jurisdictions. To close the gap, the paper takes the difference of patent citations into account. The paper gains an insight into the evolutionary pattern of BEV technology transfer across organizations in China by constructing multi-category citation networks. We find that the technology transfer networks are increasingly complex over time, but technology transfers between organizations are uneven. An important characteristic of technology transfer is that it follows the power-law distribution with a very long tail. More importantly, both large car manufacturers and new entrants play an important role in technology transfer, followed by top automotive suppliers, while the role of universities is limited. Our findings can help policy-makers or company managers better understand the evolutionary pattern of BEV technology transfer at the organizational level.

Striving for Enterprise Sustainability through Supplier Development Process

Much research has already been dedicated to the impact of the supply chain, but less attention has been paid to the potential of supplier development (SD) processes in strengthening enterprises’ sustainability performance. This study aimed to indicate how the approach to socially responsible supplier development has changed over the years (2010–2019) in the automotive sector considering the types of practices and the applied areas of social responsibility. The study was based on original and empirical content analysis research of sustainability reports of car producers. To identify changes in the approach to socially responsible supplier development (SRSD) practices, 17 criteria were identified within direct as well as indirect types of supplier development practices. Considering areas of social responsibility, we applied the core subjects of social responsibility based on the ISO 26000 standard. The findings revealed that during the analyzed period, there has been a recursive use of both direct and indirect SD practices by the car producers but to varying degrees. The environmental protection, human rights, labor practices, fair operating practices, and organizational governance issues were the major concerns. When comparing 2010 and 2019, a clear increase was observed within all identified SRSD initiatives. The study outputs and examples of SRSD practices of car producers can act as a role model for automotive suppliers as well as other industries regarding how to incorporate sustainability into supplier development processes.

Sources of knowledge and process innovation: The moderating role of perceived competitive intensity

Global competition means that firms are under pressure to systematically develop the efficiency of their manufacturing processes. However, little has been said in the international business literature about how firms, especially those subject to severe barriers, can search for knowledge within and across national boundaries to help in the development of process innovation. We build on key aspects of the innovation and search strategy literature to develop our conceptual model and hypotheses, which we test in the context of a less-developed, isolated, and closed economy, using data from 171 automotive component suppliers in Iran. We find that foreign knowledge search is positively related to process innovation, even in an economy that operates under severe economic sanctions. This contributes to the international business field by providing evidence that, while economic sanctions are increasingly used in modern geopolitics by the world’s most powerful countries, these actions may fail to achieve their goals with respect to individual businesses.

Resilient manufacturing: case studies in Thai automotive industries during the COVID-19 pandemic

Abstract The coronavirus pandemic is a crisis that disrupts the global supply chain and slows down the world economy. A significant challenge for the companies in the manufacturing sector is to mitigate risks related to the COVID-19 outbreak. Grounded in the resilience theory, resilience (i.e., prepare, prevent, protect, respond, and recover processes) aims to manage risks and ensure business continuity. This research aims to identify the key factors for the resilient manufacturing management of Thai automotive industries during the COVID-19 outbreak. Three outstanding companies of tier 1 automotive suppliers have been selected as case studies in this work. This qualitative research was completed by using a semi-structured interview. The target interviewers were CEOs or general managers. The data analysis was divided into two phases. Phase one summarised the interview data of each company. Phase two used thematic analysis and cross-case analysis to identify resilience practices’ patterns, themes, and multi-factors. The findings indicate three key factors to enhance resilience: leadership, technology, and the firm’s experience in handling emerging events. Together, these factors help enterprises to prepare for Business Continuity Planning (BCP), improve supply chain management, and increase the firm’s ability to recover from disruption situations. This paper contributes to the literature on the supply chain resilience in the automotive industry by providing a guideline for firms to implement resilience practices, improve business operations, and increase firm’s capabilities, both as human skills and technologies, to deal with a novel crisis. Resilience practices response to the COVID-19 outbreak not only helps the companies minimise business disruption in the short-term but also includes the long-term response strategies for unknown events. For this purpose, the case study research was conducted to investigate the resilience strategies during the COVID-19 pandemic and determine the critical success factors of resilience implementation in the Thai automotive industry.

Product Processing Quality Demand Analysis for Medium Auto Parts Enterprise in Supply Chain

Aiming at the problem of product processing quality management in automobile manufacturing supply chain, the concepts of automobile manufacturing supply chain and medium auto parts enterprise are put forward, the theory of product life cycle and relationship life cycle is introduced, and the automobile manufacturing supply chain is divided into product processing preparation stage, product sample performance evaluation stage and product production and operation stage. The cooperation model of the medium enterprise in the automotive manufacturing supply chain is constructed, the management characteristics and key influencing factors of the medium auto parts enterprises in the three stages of the automotive manufacturing supply chain are analyzed, and from the perspective of the supply chain, the product processing quality management demand model of the medium enterprise is established. Taking a new product manufacturing of an auto parts enterprise in China as an example, the practicability and rationality of the proposed concept and model are verified.

The interplay between digital transformation and governance mechanisms in supply chains: evidence from the Italian automotive industry

PurposeThis paper aims to investigate the effect of specific subsets of digital technologies and governance mechanisms (i.e. relational and contractual) on the efficiency of the automotive supply chain (SC).Design/methodology/approachBuilding on the Transaction Costs Economic (TCE) theory, and on the literatures on the governance and Digital Transformation of SCs, the research employs a multi-respondent survey on a sample of 101 Italian automotive suppliers. It analyses the interplay between investments in network and physical–digital interface technologies and buyer–supplier relationship governance models in a joint product development effort. The related effects on costs, from the automotive suppliers' perspective, are considered.FindingsThe results confirm the TCE assumptions on governance mechanisms being appropriate to enhance cost performance, but in particular show that digital technologies shape the governance of buyer–supplier relationships with different patterns. The features of synchronisation and accessibility, as ensured by network technologies, are found to strengthen the impact of contractual governance, while the adoption of physical–digital interface technologies, and their enhanced features of virtualisation and traceability, further enhance the impact of relational governance on the efficiency improvements of suppliers.Practical implicationsSC actors need to recognise the importance of long-term collaboration and superior coordination through investments in specific subsets of digital technologies, to ensure a higher product and production data codifiability, transparency and thus integration at both an intra- and an inter-firm level.Originality/valueThis study is one of the first to have considered Digital Transformation in SCs from the suppliers' perspective and its implications on the efficiency of relationship governance with buyers.

Beyond the jobs-versus-environment dilemma? Contested social-ecological transformations in the automotive industry

The transport sector is the major contributor to accelerating CO2 emissions, with the highest proportion stemming from road transport and passenger cars. At the same time, the automotive industry drives economic growth, contributes to state revenues and is an important employer. This article departs from this so-called jobs-versus-environment dilemma to discuss barriers and potentials for transformative change in the Austrian automotive (supplier) industry with a special focus on workers and trade unions. Based on a Cultural Political Economy perspective, we firstly analyze the materiality of the Austrian automotive industry and secondly link these structural features to meaning-making and the articulation of crisis construals and imaginaries by workers and their representatives. This analysis helps to better understand the challenges for more transformative change but thirdly also to examine entry points for such a transformation from a labor perspective. We characterize the materiality of the Austrian automotive industry around six interconnected features and identify an improvement, a diversification and a transformation imaginary. Despite a widespread perception of incremental change among the workforce in the automotive industry, we find that there is strong confidence in their knowledge and expertise that could also support a more systemic mobility transformation. As such, the transformation of the Austrian automotive industry exemplifies both the strategic dilemmas and potentials of social-ecological transformations.

Personel Devamsızlığında Atama ve Dengeleme Problemi için Karar Destek Sistemi

In today's intense competition environment, enterprises must use their production resources effectively in order to sustain their assets. The importance of this issue is increasing day by day. For this reason, enterprises are working to manage their resources in the best way with various methods. One of the most important sources for businesses is labor. It is necessary to make effective use of human factor in labor intensive enterprises. In addition, absence in the business is very common. In this study, a mathematical model was firstly proposed in order to assign the appropriate personnel instead of daily absentee staff in an automotive supplier industry and to distribute the work if necessary; afterwards, in order to answer the needs of the enterprise, the Decision Support System (DSS) has been designed. In the event that the personnel does not come to work in the operation with the proposed DSS, the most authorized personnel is assigned to the relevant work stations and the work is shared to the other stations where necessary. Therefore, with a systematic process management, sustaining of standard production and minimizing the losses which may occur are aimed.

Productivity improvement and multiple management controls: evidence from a manufacturing firm

PurposeThe present paper explores the multiple management control systems (MCSs) involved in productivity improvement (PI) in manufacturing and how they interrelate. Research has largely neglected the multiplicity and interrelationships of these MCSs.Design/methodology/approachDrawing on an abductive case study approach, the authors collected empirical data from a global automotive supplier that produces complex systems for passenger cars. Recent PI activities are analysed to identify and explain the interrelationships among the multiple MCSs affecting these activities.FindingsThe study shows how a broad range of MCSs are involved in PI. The study identifies and explores both complementary and conflicting relationships among the MCSs and demonstrates how managers rely on a set of mechanisms to alleviate tensions and strengthen complementarities among these MCSs.Research limitations/implicationsAs this paper is based on a single case study, future research can contribute further generalisations (analytical and statistical) with respect to the MCSs involved in PI, how they are interrelated and which mechanisms managers use to manage their interrelationships.Practical implicationsManagers seeking to control and improve productivity should consider the complete control package and its interrelationships instead of focussing on each MCS separately.Originality/valueThe present paper contributes to the knowledge of the multiplicity and interrelationships of MCSs involved in PI and the type of managerial work required to manage their interrelationships.

Spatial Clustering of Foreign Direct Investment: The Case of Japanese Automotive Suppliers in Mexico

The arrival of Japanese investment in the Mexican automotive industry has caused an increase in the economic dynamism of the Bajio region, especially since the entry into force of the Mexico-Japan Economic Partnership Agreement in 2005. Previous research has been conducted from different perspectives explaining the spatial distribution and agglomeration of Japanese enterprises in host countries; however, studies that employ measurements of spatial clustering for Japanese firms are still scarce. For the present research, a unique spatial georeferenced database of Japanese automotive suppliers was created to identify the clustering patterns of firms. The results suggest that Japanese automotive supplier firms in Mexico favor spatial proximity. The use of spatial measurements of concentration provides evidence to further understand the presence of agglomeration of Japanese firms in the automotive industry.

Synergistic effect of cooperation and coordination to enhance the firm's supply chain adaptability and performance

PurposeTo address how organizations should be malleable, the purpose herein is to draw on complementarity theory to examine the interaction effect of customer integration (i.e. coordination) and shared relationship governance (i.e. cooperation) on supply chain adaptability and firm's performance.Design/methodology/approachA survey research design is adopted to collect primary data from 177 automotive components suppliers. After assessing the measures' psychometric properties, the hypothesized relationships are evaluated using hierarchical regression analysis supplemented by structural equation modeling and complementarity test.FindingsIn the context of industrial markets, and specifically the automotive component industry, a complementary interaction effect is found between coordination and cooperation. The complementary impact was significant in affecting the supply chain adaptability and the firm's performance. Our results refine the existing supply chain integration by highlighting the complementary effect of coordination and cooperation.Practical implicationsUnderstanding the true interaction effect between cooperation and coordination to develop supply chain integration avoids decision-makers' misperception over or underinvesting in activities. This research also provides key insights on the complementary effect of coordination and cooperation to establish structural flexibility in the supply chain and the ability to respond to the disruptions, such as the COVID-19 pandemic.Originality/valueUnderstanding the true interaction effect between cooperation and coordination to develop supply chain integration avoids decision-makers' misperception over or underinvesting in activities. The implications for theory and practice are also presented.

Language and discounting future value: language as a moderator of internationalization–innovation performance relationships

PurposeResearch on relationships between firms' degree of internationalization (DOI) and innovation performance has been mixed, and moderators of these relationships need to be explored. We focus on patents granted as an indicator of innovation performance and explore the moderating role of firms' home-country languages on the DOI–innovation performance relationship. We argue that in countries with languages that always require speakers to grammatically mark the future, firms will focus less on the future value of patents, which should moderate DOI–innovation performance relationships.Design/methodology/approachWe use an unbalanced panel consisting of 567 firm-year observations of 64 different large automotive suppliers from the year 2007 through 2019. This database was analyzed using negative binomial models with a 3-years lag structure and firm controls.FindingsResults show a U-shaped DOI–innovation performance relationship, but only for firms from countries that do not always require speakers to grammatically mark the future. Additionally, a firm's status as being from a country where dominate languages always require speakers to grammatically mark the future has a direct negative relationship with innovation performance.Research limitations/implicationsLimitations are that the sample included a large number of firms from one country (i.e. Japan) and focused on a single industry. Additionally, we used a narrow operational definition of innovation performance (i.e. patents) and relied upon a single methodology. In terms of implications, we identify one moderator that helps explain mixed results of past DOI–innovation performance research, and we identify a direct relationship between language and innovation performance. Hence, future research in this area should control for the dominant language type of firms' home countries.Originality/valueTo our knowledge, this is the first study to examine how language moderates DOI–innovation performance relationships and also relates to innovation performance directly.

A knowledge system proposal with weighted goal programming approach for multi-criteria dea model and an application

In today's competitive environment, enterprises should use their resources correctly; they should continuously improve themselves and work efficiently. It is important to evaluate the performances of the units under the same conditions in enterprises according to each other, to see the current situations and to determine appropriate improvements in necessary points. One of the commonly used approaches to performance evaluation is Data Envelopment Analysis. Many approaches have been developed for the Data Envelopment Analysis model, and Goal programming using in multi-objective decision making solutions approaches is one of them. Goal Programming gives decision-makers the opportunity to evaluate many objectives together in the decision-making process. In this study, classical Data Envelopment Analysis and weighted goal programming approach for multi-criteria data envelopment analysis model was applied in the evaluation process of the projects worked in an automotive supplier industry. A knowledge system has also been proposed in order to evaluate the effectiveness of the projects periodically and to include new projects or conditions into the evaluation.

Can systems integration lead to improved performance? The role of strategic alliances

Despite growing research attention to systemic products and systems integration, there is still a dearth of research on the performance benefits that firms can attain from increased systems integration capabilities. We address this research gap using a longitudinal sample of 245 first-tier automotive suppliers and find that an increased systems integration capability positively affects financial performance. By considering the crucial role of manufacturing alliances, we also find evidence that vertical alliances with buyers positively moderate the relationship between systems integration capabilities and performance, while horizontal alliances have a negative moderating effect. These results contribute to the dynamic capabilities literature by providing empirical evidence that systems integration capability is a relevant predictor of firm performance, and expands the current understanding of how system manufacturers should manage their business-to-business (B2B) relationships.

A comprehensive KPI network for the performance measurement and management in global production networks

The trend of globalization has led to a structural change in the sales and procurement markets of manufacturing companies in recent decades. In order not to be left behind by this change, companies have internationalized their production structures. Global production networks with diverse supply and service interdependencies are the result. However, the management of global production networks is highly complex. Key performance indicator (KPI) networks already exist at the corporate level and site level to support the management of complex systems. However, such KPI networks are not yet available to support the management of entire production networks. In this article, a KPI network for global production networks is presented, which links the key figures of the site level and the corporate level. By integrating both levels into a comprehensive KPI network, cause and effect relationship between the production-related KPIs and the strategic KPIs of a corporate strategy become transparent. To this end, this KPI network is integrated into a Performance Measurement and Management (PMM) methodology. This methodology consists of three phases: performance planning, performance improvement, and performance review. For testing the practical suitability, the PMM methodology is applied to the production network of an automotive supplier using a simulation model to estimate the effects of proposed improvement actions of the methodology.

The Impact of Personality Traits on the Burnout promoting Effect of poor Supervisor Support

The skill of supervisors to provide adequate social support is an indispensable prerequisite for the economic success of the organization. The two-way relationship (dyad) between the leader and the led, is in the focus of this investigation. For this research in the field of social support, the moderating effects of personality traits have been considered. The question arises, as to whether they can compensate or moderate inadequate social support from supervisors and its effects on burnout. The sample comprises of managers in middle management (N=338) from different German automotive suppliers. In the examination, the Survey of Perceived Supervisor Support (SPSS), the German version (MBI-D) of the Maslach Burnout Inventory and the 10-Item Big-Five Inventory (BFI-10) were used. It was postulated that “neuroticism”, “openness” & “conscientiousness” have no, but “extraversion”, “agreeableness” have a moderating effect between “perceived supervisor support” and the three burnout dimensions. After all, no moderating effect for all Big-5 traits was observed. Nonetheless, a negative significant correlation between the personality dimensions “openness” and the MBI dimensions “emotional exhaustion” (r=-.245, p<.05) and “depersonalization” (r=-.301, p<.01) was found. Furthermore, there is a significant connection between “neuroticism” with the MBI dimension of “reduced personal accomplishment” (r=.396, p<.01).

Tracking Software in the Automotive Field: Challenges and Solutions

In the automotive domain, the development concerning entire safety-critical systems after comport including safety requirements such so ISO 26262. These requirements require mounted traceability, the potential to tell artifacts built throughout development of a system, according to confirm resulting structures are well-tested then therefore safe. This paper contrasts average traceability challenges or solutions including these unique in conformity with the car domain, and investigates how he obvious into practice. We mix three records sources: a tertiary writing criticism in accordance with identify normal challenges then solutions; a suit study with an automotive supplier so validation for what the challenges then solutions are skilled among practice; then a multi-vocal composition stricture to identify challenges or options particular according to the automotive domain. We observed 22 challenges or sixteen special options among the reviews. 17 challenges were identified within the suit study; six continue to be unsolved. We talk about challenges then options out of the perspectives on academia, tool vendors, consultants and users, and discover differences among scientific or “grey” literature. We talk about why challenges continue to be unsolved then endorse solutions. Our findings point out as at that place is a great overlap among average traceability challenges yet these of the automotive area however to that amount she are skilled differently.

Validation of production system throughput potential and simulation experiment design

<p>The throughput potential of a production system must be designed and validated before implementation. Design includes creating product flow by setting the takt time consistent with meeting customer demand per time period and the average cycle time at each workstation being less than the takt time. Creating product flow implies that the average waiting time preceding each workstation is no greater than the takt time. Kingman’s equation for the average waiting time can be solved for the variation component given the utilization, and the cycle time. The variation component consists of the variation in the demand and the variation in cycle time. Given the variation in demand, the maximum allowable variation in cycle time to create flow can be determined. Throughput potential validation is often performed using discrete event simulation modeling and experimentation. If the variation in cycle time at every workstation is small enough to create flow, then a deterministic simulation experiment can be used. An industrial example concerning a tier-1 automotive supplier with two possible production systems designs and various levels of variation in demand assumed is used to demonstrate the effectiveness of throughput validation using deterministic discrete event simulation modeling and experimentation.</p>

Transnational transfer of lean production to a dependent market economy: The case of a French-owned subsidiary in Romania

This article addresses the implementation of lean production techniques in the Romanian subsidiary of a second-tier automotive supplier. Given the liberal institutional environment of the host country, the company anticipated a smooth transfer of lean production practices. However, the findings show that a host country’s economic dependence can be detrimental to the transfer of practices from the home country. The combination of low-complexity production and work intensification led to depressed employee motivation and frequent conflicts. These can be attributed to a mismatch between work organization and national economic profile, which suggests incompatibility between low-wage, low-complexity strategies and Japanese organizational models.

EU industrial policy: Between modernization and transformation of the automotive industry

The transport sector accounts for 27 % of total CO2 emissions in the EU, with almost half of these being attributed to passenger cars and the automotive industry. In order to meet the Paris Agreement 1.5 °C target, these figures call for interventionist policies that go beyond individual consumer choice and transform industrial sectors. The article conceptually elaborates on the advancements in transformation and transition studies to analyse the role of industrial policy for accelerating social-ecological transformations. The article empirically analyses key characteristics of EU industrial policy and critically discusses its potential for transforming the automotive sector, based on a qualitative case study of the Austrian automotive (supplier) industry. Our analysis suggests that EU industrial policies at most ecologically modernise and at worst actively conserve the unsustainable structures of the automotive industry. This is because EU automotive industrial policies (1) defend economic growth and competitiveness, (2) focus narrowly on innovation (policy) and refuse to disrupt unsustainable industrial pathways as well as (3) promote ecological modernisation through efficiency instead of absolute emission reductions. The article concludes with entry points for a transformative industrial policy beyond ecological modernisation.