Framework for Knowledge Management Processes in Supply Chain

The main goal of this study is to provide a framework for knowledge management processes in supply chain of automotive industry in iran. This is an applied research and has done as a survey in Iran Khodro and Saipa Company as the largest companies in automotive industry of Iran. In this study 206 experts participated. Reliability methods were cronbach''s Alfa and validity tests were content construction and discriminant analysis. To response to 1 main question and 5 sub questions in this research first and second confirmative factor analysis and correlation test were used. During the research it found that the introduced framework has a perfect construct and discriminantvalidity in supply chain of automotive industry of Iran. In this framework 4 main processes and 1 complementary process are identified. Then through the technique of factor analysis these processes and their indicators were analyzed. Results showed that all these processes are essential for supply chainandin order of importance are: 1)Transfer sharing and distribution; 2)Use application and exploiting; 3)Acquisition creation and generate knowledge; 4)Organization and storage; and 5) Evaluation and Feedback (this process was a complementary process in this framework). The innovation aspect of the research is to provide a comprehensive framework for knowledge management processes in supply chain of automotive industry with main indicators for each process. Several investigations have been made for knowledge management but specific research on knowledge management processes in the supply chain has not been observed. Thus providing the framework and indicators for each component of the framework is the innovation of the research.