Resilience of supply chains in the automotive industry during the COVID-19 pandemic on the example of Polish enterprises

Abstract

PURPOSE: The aim of the article is to present disruptions in the COVID-19 pandemic occurring in the supply chain of companies from the automotive industry. The specific objectives are the identification and characterization of companies operating in automotive supply chains, defining changes in the automotive industry during the pandemic, and showing the types of disruptions in supply chains and ways to counteract these unfavorable situations.

DESIGN/METHODOLOGY/APPROACH: Companies from the automotive industry operating in Poland were selected for the research purposefully. Using the random selection method, 500 companies from the automotive industry were selected for the study, which constituted a large research sample. The data sources were surveys conducted in June 2023 among 500 enterprises in the form of a direct telephone interview.

FINDINGS: The main disruptions and problems in the supply chain were longer order execution times, increased costs of transport, storage, and labor, as well as limited timeliness of deliveries. However, as a rule, disruptions lasted up to 1 year. One in ten enterprises declared that the disturbances are still ongoing. Half of the enterprises did not experience support from their partners in the supply chain. Despite this, 60% of enterprises did not seek or use alternative suppliers or buyers. The same share of enterprises made operational decisions during the pandemic, while ¼ made strategic decisions. The pandemic also did not affect radical changes in supply chains, such as resigning from Asian suppliers in favor of European ones.

PRACTICAL IMPLICATIONS: The results will fill in the gap concerning supply chain disruptions in the automotive industry.

ORIGINALITY/VALUE: The new information about impact impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on disruptions in supply chains.