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Conventional analysis has sought to explain the determinants of price competitiveness by way of national factors, but given the current degree of international fragmentation of production, a more holistic perspective needs to be explored. This document develops a specific proposal that permits the indicator on vertically integrated unit labor costs (VIULCs) to be broken down into its fundamental components; also, the evolution of this indicator is explored for the German automotive sector, to determine which component might best elucidate the evolution of the VIULCs. The results show a decrease in VIULCs deriving from the German sector as well as from its suppliers, confirming the relevant effects of outsourcing and offshoring strategies. Moreover, wage restraint among suppliers coupled with productivity gains are found to explain the overall reduction in VIULCs. JEL classification : P16, F15, F23, [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article highlights some material aspects of informal governance by analysing the unsigned confidential documents intended to drive the future of the European automotive sector in 1991. Whilst it was long thought that the EEC–Japan agreement had been unwritten, this study reveals that it was a combination of oral and written statements, bilateral decisions and unilateral interpretations. These ambiguities have been used by the Commission to achieve the impossible: providing for one thing and its opposite in order to satisfy extremely divided opinions. Using public and private archives of several stakeholders, the article underlines the Commission's power over institutional (Member States and the European Parliament) and private (industry and NGOs) players. Whilst recent studies have pointed to repeated unwritten rules to temper informality leading to a democratic deficit, the 1991 non‐consensual consensus eluded any tacit rule because it lay in the grey area of diplomacy, economics and law. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose – Based on relationship marketing theory, this study aims to test the effect of social customer relationship management (social CRM) on customer satisfaction (CS) and loyalty (CL). Design/methodology/approach – To assess the proposed framework, structural equation modeling was performed on the data of 314 automotive customers surveyed online. Findings – Social CRM dimensions [traditional CRM (TCRM) and social media (SM) technology use] have a direct and positive effect on CS. On the other hand, only TCRM has a direct and significant influence on CL, while the SM technology use effect seems to be indirect rather than direct. Indeed, the findings have provided empirical support for the contention that CS plays a mediating role between social CRM dimensions and CL. Practical implications – In the automotive sector and developing countries in particular, companies’ managers could increase CS and CL and consequently enhance their competitiveness and market share by adopting an effective social CRM strategy. From this perspective, companies should focus their social CRM campaigns on the most SM used by customers, offer personalized choices and improve customer experience, interaction and value co-creation. Originality/value – This paper enriches the understanding of how social CRM can affect CS and CL. The scales of social CRM, CS and CL were validated in the context of developing countries and the automotive sector. Furthermore, the direct and mediating effect of CS between social CRM (TCRM and SM) and CL was also confirmed. Objetivo – Basándose en la teoría del marketing relacional, este estudio pretende comprobar el efecto de la gestión social de las relaciones con los clientes (CRM social) sobre la satisfacción y la fidelidad de los clientes. Diseño/metodología/enfoque – Para evaluar el marco propuesto, se realizó un modelado de ecuaciones estructurales sobre los datos de 314 clientes de automoción encuestados online. Resultados – Las dimensiones del CRM social (CRM tradicional y uso de tecnología de medios sociales) tienen un efecto directo y positivo en la satisfacción del cliente. Por otro lado, solamente el CRM tradicional tiene una influencia directa y significativa en la fidelidad del cliente, mientras que el efecto del uso de la tecnología de medios sociales parece ser más indirecto que directo. De hecho, los resultados han proporcionado apoyo empírico a la afirmación de que la satisfacción del cliente desempeña un papel mediador entre las dimensiones del CRM social y la fidelidad del cliente. Valor – Este artículo enriquece la comprensión de cómo el CRM social puede afectar a la satisfacción y la fidelidad de los clientes. Las escalas de CRM social, satisfacción del cliente y fidelidad del cliente se validaron en el contexto de países en vías de desarrollo y del sector automovilístico. Además, también se confirmó el efecto directo y mediador de la satisfacción del cliente entre el CRM social (CRM tradicional y medios sociales) y la fidelidad del cliente. Implicaciones prácticas – En el sector de la automoción y en los países en desarrollo en particular, los directivos de las empresas podrían aumentar la satisfacción y fidelidad de sus clientes y, en consecuencia, mejorar su competitividad y cuota de mercado adoptando una estrategia eficaz de CRM social. Desde esta perspectiva, las empresas deberían centrar sus campañas de CRM social en los medios más utilizados por los clientes, ofrecer opciones personalizadas y mejorar la experiencia del cliente, la interacción y la cocreación de valor. 目的 – 基于关系营销理论, 本研究旨在检验社会化客户关系管理（social CRM）对客户满意度和忠诚度的影响。 设计/方法/途径 – 为评估所提出的框架, 对 314 名汽车客户的在线调查数据进行了结构方程建模。 研究结果 – 社交客户关系管理维度（传统客户关系管理和社交媒体技术使用）对客户满意度有直接的积极影响。另一方面, 只有传统客户关系管理对客户忠诚度有直接和显著的影响, 而社交媒体技术使用的影响似乎是间接而非直接的。事实上, 研究结果为客户满意度在社交客户关系管理维度和客户忠诚度之间发挥中介作用的论点提供了实证支持。 原创性/价值 – 本文丰富了人们对社交客户关系管理如何影响客户满意度和忠诚度的认识。本文以发展中国家和汽车行业为背景, 对社会化客户关系管理、客户满意度和客户忠诚度的量表进行了验证。此外, 还证实了客户满意度在社会化客户关系管理（传统客户关系管理和社会化媒体）与客户忠诚度之间的直接和中介效应。 实践意义–在汽车行业 – 尤其是发展中国家, 企业管理者可以通过采取有效的社交客户关系管理战略, 提高客户满意度和忠诚度, 进而增强竞争力和市场份额。从这个角度来看, 企业应将社交客户关系管理活动的重点放在客户使用最多的社交媒体上, 提供个性化选择, 改善客户体验、互动和价值共创。

In the context of Industry 4.0, intelligent manufacturing systems are the key to creating higher value-added processes and services that enable product customization. This is made possible by dynamically reconfiguring manufacturing systems based on customer needs. Robotic Process Automation (RPA) in manufacturing should only be implemented after correctly identifying those processes that can be automated. Management support for the implementation of RPA is required at all stages. RPA must be integrated into the company in convergence with the Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) system in place. The study presents an applied research, the aim of which is a project to integrate advanced technologies for automated manufacturing of three-dimensional (3D) digital model objects into the production process management system of a factory in the automotive industry. The automotive sector needs to enable the use of artificial intelligence in terms of open innovation in both manufacturing and management. Research results show that robotic process automation is a key factor in transforming the business process in an automotive factory. The implementation of RPA in the automotive industry is a decision with a major impact on the efficiency of business processes in the Industry 4.0 era. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We investigated the relationship between supply chain disruptions (SCD) and the financial performance (FP) of European automotive companies across emerging and developed nations. Addressing gaps in the literature, it offers a comprehensive, industry-specific analysis using panel data from 73 automotive firms across 21 European countries from 2013 to 2022. We examined the impact of SCD on return on assets (ROA), return on equity (ROE), and stock returns (SR), while controlling for factors such as age, leverage, size, economic growth, inflation, and unemployment. Our findings revealed that disruptions related to industrial materials and iron prices (IRAW) positively influence stock market performance, with a 99.5% increase in SR per 1% rise in IRAW, suggesting increased demand. Conversely, precious metal prices negatively affected all financial metrics, reducing ROE by 17.3% and SR by 55.5% per 1% increase. Heightened shipping costs showed varied impacts on ROA and ROE but contributed to a 12.9% average increase in SR, indicating effective cost transfer to consumers. The pandemic years significantly decreased ROA, ROE, and SR, highlighting challenges faced by the automotive sector. Rising oil prices showed no significant association, underscoring the importance of hedging strategies. The control variable outcomes emphasize the need for detailed evaluation in assessing financial performance. This study's contribution lies in its detailed analysis of specific disruptions within the automotive industry and their distinct impacts on financial performance metrics, providing a nuanced understanding that addresses significant gaps in the existing literature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article contributes to the growing literature on technological upgrading along global value chains, by focusing on the adoption of automation and digital technologies at different functional stages of the automotive value chain. It explores the constant tension that firms in emerging economies face between linking up to international trade and ensuring the upgrading of indigenous firms, which depends on the relationship between lead international firms' operations and capabilities at the local level. Drawing on extensive qualitative research in South Africa, including 39 interviews and observations at the shopfloor level, this paper examines the determinants for automation and digital technologies adoption. The finding extends existing knowledge of technological upgrading along global value chains, by examining both final assemblers and lower-tier suppliers. Four production specific drivers are identified: volume, quality, material-led adoption, and ergonomics. This paper suggests policymakers should consider sector heterogeneity and specific sector-technology combinations when designing policies to sustain digitalization and production upgrade. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Several studies attempted to investigate brand equity and retailer equity regarding their relationship with the purchase intentions of customers. However, there is little research that studied both concepts in one single study. The first aim of the study is to investigate the relationship between brand equity and purchase intentions of customers; retailer equity and purchase intentions of customers. The second aim is to test the moderating effects of perceived advertising spending and retailer equity regarding the impact of brand equity on purchase intentions. Data were collected from Turkish customers. Results indicated the positive effect of brand and retailer equity on purchase intentions where the effect of brand equity was stronger. There were no moderating effects of retailer equity and perceived advertising spending regarding the impact of brand equity on purchase intentions. The most important findings were that brand equity and retailer equity have considerable and positive effects on the purchase intentions of customers; however, they act independently from each other. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As part of its European Data Strategy, the EU wants to create a market for non-personal data and unlock the sharing of industrial data between companies. This theory-building case study suggests that businesses' data governance preferences are determined by their position in the data value chain and thus whether firms monetise data as data holders (producers) in the upstream or as data reusers (access seekers) in the downstream segment. While the latter favour legal rules for governing data sharing, the former prefer only contractual agreements. The data value chain theory draws on concepts of the role of data in value creation in the digital economy and on case evidence from the automotive and financial sectors, which are typical cases of digital disruption. The theory helps to better understand coalition building in business lobbying activities, the potential dynamics between private self-regulation and public policies, and the probable feedback effects of digital policies on corporate power sources. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The automotive trade is one of the main drivers of world economies, contributing to the sustainability and competitiveness of countries at a global level. The luxury sub-segment is the one facing the most significant growth and the one which presents the greatest challenges in the business-to-consumer (B2C) relationship. Brand Attachment refers to the cognitive and effective connection between consumers and "their" brands. The central objective of this research is to analyze, measure, and understand the impact of Brand Attachment on consumer behavior, in the specific context of the luxury segment of the automotive market. The conceptual model that is proposed seeks to highlight and study the possible connections and associations between Brand Attachment, satisfaction, commitment, trust, expectations, and loyalty with the brand selected for this study, the luxury automotive brand Porsche. The selected methodology was based on a case study based in the Portuguese market and the application of a questionnaire to customers of Porsche from Portugal. The results obtained through the empirical data allowed us to reach the conclusion that respondents who have a stronger affective and emotional connection with Porsche (intense level of Brand Attachment) tend to be those who are more satisfied and confident with the brand and are, consequently, more loyal. This study represents an important contribution to research on Brand Attachment in marketing and strategic management in the automotive sector, particularly in the Portuguese market, and supports the definition of the best marketing strategies to promote fruitful B2C relationships. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of International Journal of Economics, Politics, Humanities & Social Sciences / Uluslararası Ekonomi Siyaset İnsan ve Toplum Bilimleri Dergisi is the property of International Journal of Economics, Politics, Humanities & Social Sciences and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

This study aimed to enhance the efficiency of the order picking process in Carclasse's parts warehouse in Braga to achieve this objective, a comprehensive analysis of all warehouse processes was conduct. The initial analysis revealed that approximately 59% of the references in stock were considered obsolete, as they had had zero turnover in the last 5 years. Additionally, a high error rate was identify in the order picking process, with around 6% of references being pick incorrectly. These errors led to discrepancies between the physical stock levels and the system records since some order picking errors went undetected. Moreover, queues were observed among internal customers when requesting material retrieval, which hindered workflow. Based on these findings, improvements were proposed to address the identified issues. One of the key proposals was the implementation of a Barcode scanning system to increase the digitalization of warehouse processes and rectify order picking and stock errors. Additionally, to reduce internal customers' waiting time, it was suggested to shift the responsibility of part identification for collection to mechanics and increase from 2 to 4 the number of identification stations. It is crucial to highlight that the implementation of the Barcode scanning system can not only reduce order-picking errors but also contributed to the overall optimization of Carclasse's parts warehouse. With the digitalization of processes, it is expected an enhancement in traceability and inventory accuracy, avoiding discrepancies between physical stock and system records. This can resulted in greater control and reliability of inventory data, providing a solid foundation for operational and strategic decision-making. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Polish Journal of Management Studies is the property of Czestochowa University of Technology, Faculty of Management and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

With the rapid advancements in Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) and the widespread enthusiasm of both theoreticians and practitioners, the broader transition to Industry 4.0 (I4.0) in major industries appears imminent. This empirical study analyzes business data from 1140 automotive companies operating in Europe, utilizing various business intelligence platforms and employing decision tree analytics to establish connections between enablers, drivers, company size, and financial resources. The goal is to identify persistent barriers hindering the rational transition to Industry 4.0. The findings reveal an uneven transformation within the industry nexus. While larger companies possess the financial means to allocate collective intelligence, technical resources, and drive necessary for fulfilling I4.0 requirements, smaller members of the nexus lag behind despite their enthusiasm and intent. This imbalanced evolution poses a threat to the comprehensive transformation required for realizing all the benefits of Industry 4.0 within the sector. The primary discovery indicates that small to medium-sized enterprises do not exhibit the same rates of Industry 4.0 adoption, a lag highly correlated with their available financial and human resources for digital transition. The decision tree proposed in this study offers guidelines for achieving an Industry 4.0-compliant nexus. Given its diversity and substantial global impact, the case study from the automotive industry proves intriguing and may later be generalized to other sectors. The study's outcome could empower engineering managers and researchers to implement, execute, and assess the impact of digital strategies based on the financial capabilities of industrial institutions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective of this research is the analysis of the general position of the Spanish population under 45 years old (young adults) regarding the acceptance of the electric vehicle. The methodology is quantitative (from survey data) and qualitative (semi-structured interviews with professionals in the sector Although most of the participants state that they are aware of the environment, only 29.4% would be interested in purchasing an electric vehicle, its high price being the biggest barrier. It is concluded that electric vehicles will be the predominant mobility option in the future, although currently they are not, mainly among the younger population. In any case, interest in electric vehicles is different depending on gender, level of education and frequency of vehicle change. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The emerging automotive sector in Europe is again a concern after the COVID-19 pandemic storm. The automotive industry is essential to increasing revenue for a country and influencing an open economy. Even so, there are several manufacturers whose supply and demand for raw materials, costs, and employees are critical to the business activities of this sector. The objective of this study is to analyze the effect of exports and imports in the automotive industry on economic growth. The technical analysis used in this study is multiple regression to see the effect of the independent variables, exports, and imports, has on GDP as the dependent variable using panel data for 2017-2021. The data used is secondary, with the research object being Austria, Hungary, and Romania, countries in emerging markets in the European automotive sector. Findings regarding of the multiple-regression model, f-test and t-test show that the Austrian, Hungarian, and Romanian automotive industries significantly influence overall GDP, even though there are demands in the era of energy sustainability which is a significant concern for the government in creating an energy-efficient automotive industry.

Bilgi sistemleri içerisinde yer alan ve en eskilerinden biri olan muhasebe bilgi sistemi, işletmenin iç ve dış çevresinde yer alan ilgili kişilerin ihtiyaçlarına uygun verilerin toplanması, işlenmesi, özetlenmesi ve çeşitli analiz yöntemlerini uygulayarak sonuçların yorumlanması faaliyetlerini yerine getirmektedir. İşletme sahipleri, yöneticiler, paydaşlar ve yatırımcıların işletmenin faaliyet ve performans sonuçları hakkında bilgiye olan ihtiyaçları geçmişten günümüze kadar olan süreçte sürekli olarak artmıştır. Bu bilgi ihtiyacının özünde işletmelerin mevcut ve geçmiş faaliyet ile performans sonuçları üzerinde uygulanan çeşitli finansal analiz tekniklerinden elde edilen sonuçlardan hareketle işletmenin gelecekteki faaliyet ve performans sonuçları öngörülmesi yatmaktadır. Bu açıklamalar çerçevesinde gerek muhasebe bilgi sistemi ve bu sistemin bir parçası olan finansal analiz teknikleri doğrultusunda Borsa İstanbul (BİST) otomotiv sektöründe faaliyet gösteren ve üretici statüsündeki şirketlerin kârlılık oranları üzerindeki değişkenlerin etkisi tespit edilmeye çalışılmıştır. Araştırma kapsamında yer alan otomotiv üretici statüsündeki ve verilerini çeyreklik olarak açıklayan toplam sekiz şirketin 2009 ile 2022 yılları arasındaki verileri panel veri analiz yöntemi ile analiz edilmiştir. Sonuç olarak otomotiv sektöründe faaliyet gösteren şirketlerin aktif kârlılık oranı, ekonomik kârlılık oranı ve özsermaye kârlılık oranları üzerinde kısa ve uzun vadeli borç oranlarının önemli bir etkiye sahip oldukları tespit edilmiştir.

Copyright of GeSec: Revista de Gestao e Secretariado is the property of Sindicato das Secretarias e Secretarios do Estado de Sao Paulo (SINSESP) and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Journal of Selcuk University Social Sciences Institute / Selçuk Üniversitesi Sosyal Bilimler Enstitüsü Dergisi is the property of Journal of Selcuk University Social Sciences Institute and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Revista Venezolana de Gerencia (RVG) is the property of Revista de Filosofia-Universidad del Zulia and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The paper is focused on predicting the financial performance of a small open economy with an automotive industry with an above-standard share. The paper aims to predict the probability distribution of the decomposed relative economic value-added measure of the automotive production sector NACE 29 in the Czech economy. An advanced Monte Carlo simulation prediction model is applied using the exact pyramid decomposition function. The problem is modelled using advanced stochastic process instruments such as Levy-driven mean-reversion, skew t-regression, normal inverse Gaussian distribution, and t-copula interdependencies. The proposed method procedure was found to fit the investigated financial ratios sufficiently, and the estimation was valid. The decomposed approach allows the reflection of the ratios’ complex relationships and improves the prediction results. The decomposed results are compared with the direct prediction. Precision distribution tests confirmed the superiority of the decomposed approach for particular data. Moreover, the Czech automotive sector tends to decrease the mean value and median of financial performance in the future with negative asymmetry and high volatility hidden in financial ratios decomposition. Scholars can generally use forecasting methods to investigate economic system development, and practitioners can obtain quality and valuable information for decision making.

This paper contributes to the debate of the circular economy (CE) through understanding how this concept is constructed and linked to the sustainability triple-axis. We aim to observe if the way the term is defined by scholars is in line with the definitions and discourse emanating from the actors involved in our analysis. Based on the Responsible Research and Innovation framework, we held two meetings with stakeholders in the Basque Country´s automotive sector. The results reflect that there is no single way of understanding the concept, either among the agents studied nor in the academic literature, since although many concordances exist, various discrepancies have emerged. However, we do observe a general pattern, in that the social axis of sustainability is cornered, while the environmental and economic axis are at the centre of CE concept.

The study investigates the relationship between the information and communication-enabled supply chain integration (SCI) and sustainable supply chain performance (SSCP). Moreover, to the best of our knowledge, there is no empirical evidence on the impact of blockchain technologies (BT) on the SSCP. Therefore, the primary aim of this study is to assess the relationship between BT and SSCP. More specifically, the study was conducted to examine the direct influence of BT on SCI and SSCP and the interactive effect of BT and SCI on SSCP. Based on the dynamic capability theoretical lens, the present study conceptualizes the use of BT as a specific IT resource to collaborate and reconfigure the ties with the upstream and downstream supply chain members to achieve SSCP. The results of the study support the hypothesis stating that BT positively influences the SSCP. The results recognize the role of SCI as a significant mediating variable between the BT and SSCP. The result indicates the strong influence of SCI with full mediation effect on the relationship between the BT and SSCP. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Journal of Current Marketing Approaches & Research (JCMAR) / Güncel Pazarlama Yaklaşımları ve Araştırmaları Dergisi is the property of Journal of Current Marketing Approaches & Research (JCMAR) / Guncel Pazarlama Yaklasimlari ve Arasti and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Revista Producao Online is the property of Associacao Brasileira de Engenharia de Producao and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Sustainability performance of suppliers has become increasingly important for both corporate practice and research. While the importance of relationships between the focal company and its suppliers has been acknowledged for improving sustainability performance of suppliers, little is known about the role of relation specific factors in practice. This research fills this gap by empirically analyzing the relevance of relationspecific factors for the sustainability performance of suppliers based on a unique data set of 736 first‐tier suppliers of a German original equipment manufacturer in the automotive industry. The analysis reveals that the sustainability performance of suppliers relates positively to transaction volume and relationship length as specific forms of relation specific characteristics as well as strategic partnership as a proxy of incentivized, in‐depth cooperation and knowledge exchange. Each of the investigated relation‐specific characteristics show a link with either environmental or with social performance. Conclusions are drawn for research and management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper investigates implemented diversity and inclusion practices’ effect on firm sustainability. The study covers a sample of small and middle-sized automotive firms in Czechia, where diversity and inclusion practices have been implemented in relation to firm sustainability. The paper’s methodology is based on theoretical models of diversity management and firm sustainability in the automotive sector. The paper provides evidence that a low number of firms in the Czech Republic in the automotive sector have been rolling out any diversity and inclusion measures but at the same time, the majority of the selected firms have been considering the development and implementation of human resource management practices in the area of diversity and inclusion as a vital part of attracting more investors and aligning with the global sustainable goals of the United Nations. Moreover, the paper brings evidence that the automotive firms in the Czech Republic are following global and regional trends on diversity and inclusion as an important step for a sustainable strategic development.

The Hungarian Komárom-Esztergom County (KEC) and the Slovak Nitra Region boarders with each other via natural boarder line in the Danube River. This neighbourhood means numerous inherit and mutually beneficial cross-border cooperation possibilities. In both counties, the automotive sector is one of the flagship of the regional economic development engine. In this context, it is crucial to gain a clear view about the main characteristics of the global automotive industry to get deeper understanding on KEC regional competitive advantages and the reasons beyond them. This paper is aiming to make interregional analysis and comparison between the Hungarian Komárom-Esztergom County and the Slovak Nitra Region automotive sector. In this context, Nitra Region and its automotive sector (Jaguar Land Rover-JLR) briefly summarized (main factors and the employment, education, innovation and the cross-border relations). At the same time, revealing the differences between the Hungarian-Slovak economical governance and regulation system, draw conclusions and adoptable recommendations for the domestic decision makers.

Background: The Plan-do-check-act (PDCA) cycle methodology for a continuous improvement project implementation aims for the internal logistics upgrade, which is especially important in the industrial context of a component manufacturing company for the automotive sector.

The paper is focused on predicting the financial performance of a small open economy with an automotive industry with an above-standard share. The paper aims to predict the probability distribution of the decomposed relative economic value-added measure of the automotive production sector NACE 29 in the Czech economy. An advanced Monte Carlo simulation prediction model is applied using the exact pyramid decomposition function. The problem is modelled using advanced stochastic process instruments such as Levy-driven mean-reversion, skew t-regression, normal inverse Gaussian distribution, and t-copula interdependencies. The proposed method procedure was found to fit the investigated financial ratios sufficiently, and the estimation was valid. The decomposed approach allows the reflection of the ratios' complex relationships and improves the prediction results. The decomposed results are compared with the direct prediction. Precision distribution tests confirmed the superiority of the decomposed approach for particular data. Moreover, the Czech automotive sector tends to decrease the mean value and median of financial performance in the future with negative asymmetry and high volatility hidden in financial ratios decomposition. Scholars can generally use forecasting methods to investigate economic system development, and practitioners can obtain quality and valuable information for decision making. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper explores the role of a design-led orientation strategy for automotive firms. Specifically, the study examines the industrial conversion strategies of companies that have found new markets thanks to the discipline of design. Indeed, the central thesis of this paper is to investigate how design can boost entrepreneurship, managerial procedures, and be a source of competitive advantage. Commonly, industrial conversion has been studied by many researchers belonging to the area of management. However, studies on the role of industrial designers in corporate strategies represent a growing domain in design. The research is based on three case studies of Italian companies that have produced components for the automotive sector for years and following a moment of instability, used their expertise to move into different markets. The paper shows a tool developed by Harvard University to display new opportunities based on existing capabilities. The analyzed visionary companies broke away from one production sector and ventured into new ones where design was a strategic lever. As the case studies show, industrial reconversion brings companies "back to life" and makes them flexible and resilient to sudden changes, thanks to switching products and markets based on existing capacities. What emerges is that industrial conversion is a winning strategy in cases of corporate crisis where sunk costs are to be exploited to explore new opportunities. Starting from this, we can assume and replicate comparable strategies in companies currently experiencing difficulties due to the changing technological paradigms in the automotive sector. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Digitalization is changing the face of the automotive industry by restructuring the supply chain (SC). This study uses a systematic literature review method to analyse current and future research trends in digitalization in the automobile SC. The Scopus database is identified for carrying out this study. With the keywords search, twenty-one articles finalized for the study. This study identified the research done year-wise, the number of articles published in the journals, and the research methods used. This research provides current and future research trends. This research will benefit the automotive sector as it will help them learn about digitalization and its technology. This research offers the future of digital technology in automobile SC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

By examining the relationship between financial ratios of companies and stock prices, this study investigates whether changes in the financial ratios of companies affect stock prices. Twelve financial ratios were used as independent variables and stock price was used as the dependent variable. The study was conducted via panel data analysis method with data from seven automotive companies traded in Borsa İstanbul (BIST) and six automotive companies traded in stock markets of Germany, the USA, and Sweden for the period of 2007Q1-2018Q4. For automotive companies traded in BIST, stock price is affected by liquidity ratios, financial structure ratios, and activity ratios but there is no statistically significant relationship between stock price and profitability ratios. On the other hand, for the automotive companies traded in stock exchanges in other countries, stock price is seen to be affected by liquidity ratios, financial structure ratios, activity ratios, and profitability ratios.

Copyright of Journal of Strategic & Social Research is the property of Mehmet Akif Ersoy University, Social Science Institute and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

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The concept of Overall Worker Efficiency (OLE) is used in industrial processes to identify the level of efficiency of the workforce involved in production in order to identify opportunities for process improvements. The present work aimed to apply and analyze the OLE tool in two sectors of the production of plastic parts associated with bus assembly, namely the sector of internal parts and the sector of external parts. The work used the Pareto Diagram tools and brainstorming with the team from the quality and management area, to identify and analyze the main losses in the period that influenced the results found. Based on the analyzes carried out, short-term improvement actions were implemented. As a result, it was found in a first sampling period, the OLE of 71.69% for the internal parts sector and 67.01% for the external parts sector, with the quality component showing the worst results. In a second sampling period, an increase in OLE was observed, which reached an average value of 82.32% in the internal parts sector and 80.71% in the external parts sector, even so, below the world reference of 85%. Thus, the authors suggest that in addition to continuing with short-term actions, the company should put into practice the proposed long-term actions in order to improve the indicator. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]