Problem: The relations between first and second tier suppliers within the automotive industry have changed drastically during recent years. Previously involving the supply of simple components, today the relation involves collaborative product development of complex subsystems. The situation is rather new for the actors, hence there are a number of problems that act as restraints for the collaboration. In order to come to terms with these problems, it is important to determine the underlying causes.
Purpose: The purpose of this thesis is to make a survey of the main problems in the collaborative product development between first and second tier suppliers within the Swedish automotive industry. Furthermore, the aim is to analyze these problems and find the underlying causes by compiling appropriate theories.
Methodology: We have chosen case study as the research method and have studied two projects focused on the development of car seats. We have carried on our study according to an abductive approach. The use of existing theories has been combined with empirical observations. First, we have studied existing theories in order to determine what to look for in the empirical study. During the empirical study, needs for new theories to help us explain the observations have emerged. Finally, during the analysis, we have combined existing theories and empirical observations in the creation of new theory. This has resulted in the model The Wheel of Fortune.
Conclusions: Through our analysis it has become obvious that the underlying reasons for the problems can be summarized with the lack of four critical factors: trust, mutual orientation, competence, and long-term view. Hence in order to solve the current problems in the relations between the collaborating actors, the companies and their top management must focus on these underlying factors. However, in the process of dealing with these critical issues, the suppliers have to be aware of the industry wide factors ?? time and price pressure, and the power structure ?? that characterize the automotive industry. These factors have a great influence on how the individual companies act, but are hard to influence by single actors.
This research constitutes an important contribution in the work of Scandinavian Automotive Suppliers (SAS). It is cr...
