WHICH SUPPLY CHAIN MANAGEMENT PROCESS TO BE INTEGRATED? STUDY OF MULTI-TIER AUTOMOTIVE SUPPLY CHAINS

This study was initiated with two main objectives, first, to explore which supply chain management process (SCMP) or processes are critical (beneficial) to integrate across multi-tier end-to-end supply chains. Second, identify possible similarities and differences among members of same supply chain regarding significance of integrating different SCMP. Eight SCMP (as suggested by Lambert et al. 1998) were included in the study to measure the significance of integrating a few or all supply chain management processes. General survey guided by structured questionnaire has been administered across a sample of seventy nine (79) business organizations representing multi-tier Pakistani automotive supply chain. Sample represents six major supply chain players including 3rd, 2nd and 1st tier suppliers, original equipment manufacturer (OEM), logistics service providers (LSP) and authorized dealers. The findings of this study present valuable academic and managerial implications. For example, automotive supply chain players have proposed varying levels of integration i.e. strategic collaboration, functional interaction, operational cooperation and transactional interaction for each SCMP. Secondly, all SCMP were declared critical and beneficial for integration except returns management. Thirdly, in addition to some similarities, differences of opinion were observed in terms of integration of each SCMP with different supply chain partners. Finally, this study also provides deep insight to the automotive managers regarding significance of integration of each SCMP at specific level.