Supply Chain Transparency in the Scandinavian Automotive Industry

Sammanfattning: The automotive industry can be characterized as a highly competitive and dynamic landscape, where effective supply chain management practices are crucial for meeting consumer demands and ensuring sustainable operations. Transparency across the supply chain is vital for building trust and collaboration among supply chain stakeholders. However, achieving it can be challenging due to various barriers and areas that require further development. Accordingly, this research focuses on identifying barriers to achieving supply chain transparency in the automotive industry and exploring strategies to overcome them and proposing ways for development. Systematic Literature Review was used to find and analyze relevant theoretical literature. Additionally, Thematic analysis was employed to analyze the data collected through semi-structured interviews with key industry professionals. The results of study show that transparency in supply chains is impacted by a number of principal obstacles including, regulations and geographical dynamics, scale and values and essential technologies. These barriers influence transparency levels and overall supply chain performance. The study suggests various approaches to developing supply chain transparency, including the integration of advanced technologies such as RFID, the Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT), and blockchain. Additionally, building trust for collaboration, communication, and aligning organizational values are identified as crucial factors in enhancing transparency. It was discovered that collaborative relationships facilitate knowledge sharing, inventory management, risk management, and value co-creation, leading to improved competitiveness, innovation, and overall supply chain performance. The insights from this research provide valuable guidance for automotive companies aiming to improve transparency, operational efficiency, and responsible business practices within their supply chains.