A longitudinal study: Component trade network structures and supplier performance in Japanese automotive industry

2018 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 15K03686
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Research Field: Management
• Research Institution: Hosei University
• Principal Investigator: Konno Yoshinori 法政大学, 経営学部, 教授 (10345275)
• Project Period (FY): 2015-04-01 – 2019-03-31
• Keywords: 自動車産業 / サプライヤー / 企業間関係 / 協業 / 取引ネットワーク

Outline of Final Research Achievements

The two most important approaches toward the growth strategy for automobile component suppliers are extending “product scope” (product range) and “customers scope” (customer reach) within the industry. This study analyzes the growth strategies of Japanese suppliers by focusing on these two dimensions in a longitudinal manner. In other words, this study investigates the two dimensions of product scope and customer scope over a certain period of time to provide empirical analysis and discussion regarding the relationship between the supplier growth strategy and management performance.
From our analysis, it can be concluded that suppliers of automotive components should give priority to extending customer scope rather than extending product scope.

Free Research Field

社会科学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

一口で自動車部品と言っても、使用される材料も生産技術も、あるいは部品の駆動や制御の方式についても多岐にわたっており、まさにものづくりの世界の「小宇宙」を構成していると言っても過言ではない。こうした自動車部品業界を取り上げて、部品サプライヤーが構築した取引ネットワークの構造が当該社の中・長期的なパフォーマンスにどのような影響を及ぼすのか、それはなぜなのかを経時的に検証するという本研究の取り組みは、非常にユニークで、なおかつ自動車部品業界に留まらない、企業の成長戦略一般に通じる普遍的な知見をもたらす可能性が高いと言えよう。