Successful supplier integration in the Chinese automotive industry: a theoretical framework

PurposeFundamental management innovations have been ideated and developed in the automotive industry. Over the years, carmakers have radically modified their innovation strategies. Currently, carmakers are increasingly adopting open innovation approaches, moving from a closed to open innovation paradigm. The aim of this paper is to reconstruct the evolution of the innovation activities performed by carmakers and to propose an original periodisation of innovation strategies in the automotive industry since its origins.Design/methodology/approachThis paper analyses the relevant literature and proposes a theoretical framework that defines how innovation strategies have changed from the birth of the automotive industry to current times. A detailed in-depth case study of Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (FCA), one of the top ten global carmakers, is used to corroborate the theoretical framework. The case study reconstructs the entire evolution of the innovation strategies of the company from its origins to the present day.FindingsThe paper proposes an original periodisation by identifying three evolutionary phases of innovation strategies pursued by carmakers: “internal innovation”, “collaborative innovation” and “towards open innovation”. Each phase embraces a historical period, and for each period, the most relevant managerial aspects, as well as the types and direction of knowledge flows for fostering innovation, are analysed. The case study provides clear evidence that FCA has undergone the three above-cited phases in fostering its innovation strategies.Originality/valueThe study reconstructs the evolution of the innovation strategies performed by global carmakers, proposing an original periodisation of the transitions that occurred in practice in the automotive industry. This paper is among the first to explore the evolution of innovation strategies in the automotive industry since its origins to date and to highlight the salient differences that have occurred over time.

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Role of European Automotive Supplier Integration in New Product Development

International Journal of Customer Relationship Marketing and Management ◽

10.4018/jcrmm.2011070101 ◽

2011 ◽

Vol 2 (3) ◽

pp. 1-25

Author(s):

Chanan S. Syan ◽

Anthony S. White

Keyword(s):

Product Development ◽

New Product Development ◽

Automotive Industry ◽

New Product ◽

Product Development Process ◽

Supplier Integration ◽

Significant Step ◽

Reducing Costs ◽

The Eu

Over the past two decades, the automotive industry has experienced major changes as a result of globalisation, changing customer requirements and environmental legislation. The supplier integration in the new product development process is a significant step in facilitating reduction in the time to market of innovations and reducing costs. The aim of this work is to assess the extent of supplier integration in automotive organisations and to identify what barriers still exist. An exploratory Europe-wide survey was conducted, and 31 usable returns from automotive organisations spread across the EU. The survey confirmed the increasing importance of supplier integration in the automotive industry; however, the practice varies from organisation to organisation. They also indicate that most automobile manufacturers are engaged in functional rather than strategic supplier integration, indicating that the supplier integration is not yet fully developed, but progress in the first tier of suppliers is becoming common.

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Supplier Integration in the Chinese Automotive Industry

Managing Global Supply Chain Relationships ◽

10.4018/978-1-61692-862-9.ch002 ◽

2011 ◽

pp. 16-48

Author(s):

Martin Lockström ◽

Norma Harrison ◽

Roger Moser ◽

Manoj Malhotra ◽

Joachim Schadel

Keyword(s):

Supply Chain ◽

Grounded Theory ◽

Automotive Industry ◽

Research Methodology ◽

Strategic Alignment ◽

Supply Chain Performance ◽

Important Concept ◽

Supplier Integration ◽

Inductive Approach ◽

Collaborative Capabilities

Supplier integration has become an important concept for improving supply chain performance in networked industries, such as the automotive industry. The aim of this chapter is to identify factors that facilitate and inhibit supplier integration in the context of the Chinese automotive industry. An inductive approach, based on grounded theory, was chosen as the research methodology, where data was collected through 30 case interviews conducted with automotive companies in China and through which data was collected accordingly. The results suggest that buyer-side leadership is an important antecedent for building motivation, trust and commitment among suppliers and for shaping their mindsets. This, in turn, facilitates strategic alignment and enables suppliers to build collaborative capabilities, which are shown to be a key enabler for successful supplier integration.

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An Organizational Trauma Intervention

Impact of Organizational Trauma on Workplace Behavior and Performance - Advances in Human Resources Management and Organizational Development ◽

10.4018/978-1-5225-2021-4.ch011 ◽

2017 ◽

pp. 264-277

Author(s):

Bülent Kılıç

Keyword(s):

Labor Unions ◽

Automotive Industry ◽

Intervention Program ◽

Theoretical Perspective ◽

Theoretical Framework ◽

Blue Collar ◽

Trauma Intervention ◽

Pilot Intervention ◽

Organizational Trauma ◽

Main Intervention

The aim of this chapter is to describe a trauma experienced among blue collar employees at the XYZ car factory in Turkey. Demonstrations led to a halt of production after the representative union signed higher salary at another factory. After the consensus among the parties the production was restarted. However, the trauma and its symptoms emerged. Conflicts and polarization rose among the workers and the employer decided to conduct an intervention program. This study focuses on the pre-intervention, pilot intervention and main intervention programs. Descriptive quotations related to the trauma and the implications of the intervention program are discussed in the light of a theoretical framework. In the present paper, a brief background of the automotive industry and labor unions will be presented. The theoretical perspective is put forward, the implemented program is described, and the descriptive findings are presented then the findings and implications are discussed.

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INTEGRATION OF VALUE ENGINEERING AND TRIZ-THEORY OF INVENTIVE PROBLEM SOLVING: A THEORETICAL FRAMEWORK IN MALAYSIAN AUTOMOTIVE INDUSTRY

Jurnal Teknologi ◽

10.11113/jt.v77.7022 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 77 (33) ◽

Author(s):

Zarak Shaifuddin Zamrah ◽

Safian Sharif

Keyword(s):

Problem Solving ◽

Automotive Industry ◽

Cost Reduction ◽

Theoretical Framework ◽

Value Engineering ◽

Reduction Activity ◽

Entry Points

The paper aims to suggest a theoretical framework that demonstrates the integration of Value Engineering (VE) procedure with Theory of Inventive Problem Solving (TRIZ) tools, systematically tailored for Malaysian automotive environment. Previous works on VE-TRIZ integration are base on the SAVE® guidelines named Value Standard flow that suggested various TRIZ integration or entry points throughout this flow. However, in this work, the integration will take effect into the Creative Phase of the Value Standard flow. TRIZ is still new in Malaysian industrial perspective while as VE has become an accepted procedure in cost reduction activity in various industries especially in construction sectors. Referring to automotive industry, VE implementation is seen ineffective since the overall and complete VE concepts and procedures are not thoroughly well-understood and applied. To balance the above-mentioned issues and to catalyst the effectiveness and successful of VE-TRIZ implementation specifically in the context of automotive industry, the proposed theoretical framework is seen inevitably beneficial.

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