Abstract
Supply chain integration is often assumed to enhance coordination and effectiveness, yet everyday supply chain dynamics reveal persistent tensions between independence and interdependence among actors. This study examines these tensions by analyzing how industrial, marketing, and transportation actors coordinate within an integrated customer‑order supply chain. Drawing on Henri Lefebvre’s rhythmanalysis, we investigate two eras of Volvo Cars’ customer‑ordered production to investigate how temporal patterns, disruptions, and shifts in dominant logics of action shape integration outcomes. Methodologically, the study applies a situational case analysis supported by rhythmanalytical concepts to identify and interpret recurring rhythms, arrhythmias, and changes in coordination energy across actors. The findings show that integration does not guarantee effectiveness; rather, coordination is an ongoing accomplishment that must be continuously renewed as actors develop along their own logics. Differences in industrial, marketing, and transportation rhythms create temporal misalignments that influence customer orientation, cost orientation, and overall supply chain performance. Theoretically, the study contributes by introducing a rhythm analytical perspective to supply chain integration, highlighting temporal dynamics that remain underexplored in existing research. Practically, the findings offer insights into how organizations can identify and manage rhythm conflicts to sustain effective coordination over time.