Perceived trust towards suppliers and customers in supply chains of the Swedish automotive industry

The topic of this research focuses simultaneously on the perceived trust of companies towards suppliers and customers in supply chains. Initially, it is assumed that lean, responsive, and agile supply chains require satisfactory or high levels of perceived trust of companies towards suppliers and customers. Otherwise, it is assumed that less leanness, less responsiveness, and less agility may dominate the activities in supply chains. Trust often appears to be a requisite or a phenomenon that smoothes the well‐functioning of all activities in supply chains. The outcome of this study is generated and based on the empirical findings from a survey in the Swedish automotive industry. The automotive industry is characterised by its lean, responsive, and agile supply chains due to a keen competitive marketplace. Finds that there are high levels of companies’ perceived trust towards suppliers and customers in the Swedish automotive industry. Concludes in part that the perceived trust towards the suppliers and the perceived trust towards the customers differ from each other. There is also in part an association between the companies’ perceived trust towards both suppliers and customers in the industry.