The Impact of Outsourcing on Inbound Logistics Flows

This research explores the linkage between firms' outsourcing activities and the occurrence of supply chain disruptions. It is based upon a two‐phase process utilizing methodological triangulation. Phase one applies qualitative methods that explore the overall environment of outsourcing and disruptions in supply chains in the automotive industry based upon a case study of a Swedish car manufacturer. Phase two applies quantitative methods to test the findings from phase one in a wider context in the automotive industry. The results indicate that there is a significant association between the outsourcing of internal activities and the occurrence of disruptions in firms' inbound logistics flows from subcontractors.