Factors that influence Chinese automotive suppliers' mass customization capabilities

This study applies social dilemma and resource dependency theories to explore MC capabilities in Chinese automotive suppliers, and determines that some, but not all, MC practices are pertinent in the Chinese market. The practices which were found to be significant were: tactical alignment increases product and process modularity design; and product modularity design, process modularity design, and supplier segmentation can directly or indirectly increase mass customization capabilities. Relationships between tactical alignment and postponement practices and between postponement practices and mass customization capabilities were not found to be statistically significant in the Chinese context. These novel MC results are valuable since they can help guide automotive manufacturers and suppliers in their expansion into and throughout the Chinese market.