An investigation of supply chain performance measurement in the Indian automotive sector

Purpose - The purpose of this paper is to investigate the relevance of the concept of supply chain performance in developing countries. The research also attempts to identify performance measure sets for supply chain performance in the context of a developing nation. Design/methodology/approach - The research focuses on supply chain practices in the Indian automobile sector. It identifies and discusses the main motives and determinants for the adoption and implementation of supply chain management concepts. It reviews the relevance of the main models to measure the performance of supply chain in developing countries. The research is based on a combination of qualitative and quantitative methods. Primary data were collected through semi-structured interviews and an exploratory survey. Performance measure sets were identified through factor analysis. Findings - This research proposes that the concept of supply chain performance is not fully embraced by the Indian automobile sector and highlights the difficulties associated with its implementation. Research limitations/implications - Further research involving other sectors and industries needs to be undertaken in order to gain an in-depth understanding of the key factors associated with the implementation of supply chain performance practices in India. This could also help develop a generic model to measure supply chain performance. Originality/value - The paper provides an attempt to adopt the concept of supply chain performance to the Indian context and culture.