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PurposeThe United Nation's Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), introduced in 2015, connect several manufacturing strategies and promote sustainable practices in an organization. Manufacturing companies are struggling to meet changing market demands while also addressing social and biological issues. The current study aims to develop a framework that can assist practitioners and managers contribute to the attainment of the SDGs through the adoption of reconfigurable manufacturing system (RMS) practices and Industry 4.0 technologies.Design/methodology/approachAn extensive literature review was carried out to identify RMS-Industry 4.0 practices and their interconnection, as well as their contribution to achieving the SDGs. The stepwise weight assessment ratio analysis (SWARA) method was then used to compute the weights of the selected RMS-Industry 4.0 practices, whereas the weighted aggregated sum product assessment (WASPAS) method was used to prioritize performance metrics. The developed framework's robustness was tested using a sensitivity analysis across five different organizations.FindingsThe findings show that advanced technologies practices have the most importance, followed by customization and rapid adjustment of capacity and functionality practices. The sensitivity analysis revealed the robustness of the developed framework as well as its adaptability among the chosen organizations.Practical implicationsThis research will assist in the adoption of RMS and includes recent technologies that can help in the attainment of industrial SDGs. Managers will also be able to evaluate RMS in the context of industrial SDGs. Researchers and practitioners can now address the various RMS-Industry 4.0 practices while keeping the social and environmental aspects in mind.Originality/valueNo previous research has investigated the SDGs through the nexus effect of Industry 4.0 and RMS practices.

Project selection has a critical role in the successful execution of the lean six sigma (LSS) program in any industry. The poor selection of LSS projects leads to limited results and diminishes the credibility of LSS initiatives. For this reason, in this article, we propose a method for the assessment and effective selection of LSS projects. Intuitionistic fuzzy sets based on the weighted average were adopted for aggregating individual suggestions of decision makers. The weights of selection criteria were computed using entropy measures and the available projects are prioritized using the multiattribute decision making approach, i.e., modified TOPSIS and VIKOR. The proposed methodology is validated through a case example of the LSS project selection in a manufacturing organization. The results of the case study reveal that out of eight LSS projects, the assembly section (A8) is the best LSS project. A8 is the ideal LSS project for swift gains and manufacturing sustainability. The robustness and reliability of the obtained results are checked through a sensitivity analysis. The proposed methodology will help manufacturing organizations in the selection of the best opportunities among complex situations, results in sustainable development. The engineering managers and LSS consultants can also adopt the proposed methodology for LSS project selections.

PurposeTotal Productive Maintenance (TPM) could act as a practical approach to offer sustainability deliverables in manufacturing firms aligning with the natural resource-based view (NRBV) theory's strategic capabilities: pollution prevention, product stewardship and sustainable development. Also, the emergence of Blockchain Technology (BCT) and Circular Economy (CE) are proven to deliver sustainable outcomes in the past literature. Therefore, the present research examines the relationship between BCT and CE and TPM's direct and mediation effect through the lens of NRBV theory.Design/methodology/approachThe current study proposes a conceptual framework to examine the relationship between BCT, CE and TPM and validates the framework through the Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling. Responses from 316 Indian manufacturing firms were collected to conduct the analysis.FindingsThe investigation outcomes indicate that BCT positively influences CE and TPM and that TPM has a significant positive impact on CE under the premises of NRBV theory. The results also suggest that TPM partially mediates the relationship between BCT and CE.Research limitations/implicationsThis research fills a gap in the literature by investigating the effect of BCT and TPM on CE within the framework of the NRBV theory. It explores the link between BCT, TPM and CE under the NRBV theory's strategic capabilities and TPM mediation.Practical implicationsThe positive influence of TPM and BCT on CE could initiate the amalgamation of BCT-TPM, improving the longevity of production equipment and products and speeding up the implementation of CE practices.Originality/valueThis research fills a gap in the literature by investigating the effect of BCT and TPM on CE within the framework of the NRBV theory. It explores the link between BCT, TPM and CE under the NRBV theory's strategic capabilities along with TPM mediation.

Purpose The purpose of this study is to propose a framework comprising supply chain (SC) resilience strategies to handle low-frequency high impact disruptive events. This study also evaluates the impact of SC resilience strategies’ implementation on the triple bottom line of SC sustainability. Design/methodology/approach A hybrid three-phased method is proposed to meet the research objectives of this study. In the first phase, this study uses the Delphi technique to select SC resilience strategies and SC sustainability dimensions. In the second phase, the best–worst method is used to assess the relative weights of resilience strategies. Finally, in the third stage, summative Likert scoring is used to understand the impact of SC resilience strategies on the SC sustainability triple bottom line. Findings The outcomes reveal that firms give due importance to inter-organizational relationships and supplier nearness for supply continuity. In the sustainability context, the obtained scores proved that resilience strategies have the maximum impact on economic sustainability, followed by environmental sustainability. Research limitations/implications To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this is the first study that examines aspects of SC resilience strategies and quantifies their impact on the triple bottom line of SC sustainability. This study is specific to the automobile sector; sectoral diversity may expose similarities and dissimilarities in the approach. Practical implications The outcome establishes that supplier–manufacturer relationships need to be strengthened further to tackle any future uncertainties. Besides, supplier location decisions may also be revisited. The strategies proposed will aid SC managers to make informed decisions to prepare for uncertain events. Originality/value In the face of uncertain events, often SCs trade-off sustainability in pursuit of resilience. It manifests that resilience is a prerequisite for SC sustainability. While planning SCs, organizations often choose either sustainability or resilience. Thus, this study acknowledges the need to develop effective SC resilience strategies that are in harmony with the sustainability agenda.

PurposeThe purpose of this research is to establish a conceptual model to understand the impact of Total Productive Maintenance (TPM) and Industry 4.0 (I4.0) on the transition of a Circular Economy (CE). Also, the paper explores the combined impact of TPM, I4.0 and CE on the sustainability performance (SP) of manufacturing firms.Design/methodology/approachThe conceptual model is proposed using the dynamic capability view (DCV) and empirically validated by partial least squares-structural equation modelling (PLS-SEM) using 304 responses from Indian manufacturing firms.FindingsThe results suggest that I4.0 positively impacts TPM, CE and SP, also showing TPM's positive impact on CE and SP. In addition, CE has a positive influence on the SP of manufacturing firms. Furthermore, CE partially mediates the relationship between I4.0 and SP with TPM and SP. The study also identifies TPM, I4.0 and CE as a new bundle of dynamic capabilities to deliver SP in manufacturing firms.Originality/valueThe present research adds to the knowledge and literature on DCV by identifying the importance of CE in the settings of I4.0 and TPM, especially in the context of sustainability. Also, the current study offers a new set of dynamic capabilities and provides some significant future recommendations for researchers and practitioners.

PurposeThis paper aims to investigate Supply Chain (SC) Performance Measurement Systems (PMSs) (SCPMSs) that are suitable and applicable to evaluate SC performance during unexpected events such as global pandemics. Furthermore, the contribution of Industry 4.0 Disruptive Technologies (IDTs) to implement SCPMSs during such Black Swan events is investigated in this study.Design/methodology/approachThe research methodology is based upon a novel qualitative and quantitative mixed-method. A Systematic Literature Review (SLR) was initially employed to identify two complete lists of SCPMSs and IDTs. Then, a novel Interval-Valued Intuitionistic Hesitant-Fuzzy (IVIHF)-Delphi method was firstly developed in this paper to screen the extracted SCPMSs. Afterward, the Propriety, Economic, Acceptable, Resource, Legal (PEARL) indicator of the Hanlon method was innovatively applied to prioritize the identified IDTs for each finalized SCPMS.FindingsTwo high-score SCPMSs including the SC operations reference (SCOR) model and sustainable SCPMS were recommended to improve measuring the performance of the pharmaceutical SC of emerging economies such as Iran in which the societal, biological and economic issues were undeniable, particularly during unexpected events. Employing nine IDTs such as simulation, big data analytics, cloud technologies, etc., would facilitate implementing sustainable SCPMS from distinct perspectives.Originality/valueThis is one of the first papers to provide in-depth insights into determining the priority of contribution of IDTs in applying different SCPMSs during global pandemics. Proposing a novel multi-layer mixed-methodology involving SLR, IVIHF-Delphi, and the PEARL indicator of the Hanlon method is another originality offered by this paper.

Managerial relevance: In this competitive business world, social media penetrates online sales very rapidly. Businesses operating online are required to provide a safe and secured environment for customers to ensure their satisfaction. Our research results confirm that in addition to social media advertising, guaranteed 'e-safety' for customers will help establishing trust between the customer and the online businesses; it is also viewed important for present and future sales. The social media reviews need to be incorporated in managerial decision making. We try to analyse how these reviews are changing over the period of time and what are the ways to enhance customer satisfaction using information on customer expectations. This paper can help service companies to position their websites to compete in the market. Abstract In this era of social media, products and services are sold globally using a few simple clicks online. In such online purchases, trust and familiarity are considered two important driving forces of consumer decision making. While online sales advocate high levels of flexibility and choices for consumers, they also hold the online service provider responsible for ensuring the security of the online user's data. Using a Structural Equation Model (SEM) with data collected from the online service industry, we test the direct effects of 'social media-induced purchase intention' on customer satisfaction. We also test the mediating role of e-commerce/online sales (e-advertisement, e-safety and e-information) on customer satisfaction. In addition to social media advertising and information sharing, we find that a new factor-'e-safety'-mediates the relationship between customer purchase intention and customer satisfaction. Our analysis indicates that online e-trust can be established between the customer and the service company when online purchases are made. At the same time, the quality of online information and e-safety of online payments make the service company trustworthy for future purchases. We relate data analysis directly to managerial decision making to avoid any delay in online customer services in the era of social media.

PurposeIndustry 4.0 has offered significant potential for manufacturing firms to alter and rethink their business models, production processes, strategies and objectives. Manufacturing organizations have recently undergone substantial transformation due to Industry 4.0 technologies. Hence, to successfully deploy and embed Industry 4.0 technologies in their organizational operations and practices, businesses must assess their adoption readiness. For this purpose, a multi-dimensional analytical indicator methodology has been developed to measure Industry 4.0 maturity and preparedness.Design/methodology/approachA weighted average method was adopted to assess the Industry 4.0 readiness using a case study from a steel manufacturing organization.FindingsThe result revealed that the firm ranks between Industry 2.0 and Industry 3.0, with an overall score of 2.32. This means that the organization is yet to achieve Industry 4.0 mature and ready organization.Practical implicationsThe multi-dimensional indicator framework proposed can be used by managers, policymakers, practitioners and researchers to assess the current status of organizations in terms of Industry 4.0 maturity and readiness as well as undertake a practical diagnosis and prognosis of systems and processes for its future adoption.Originality/valueAlthough research on Industry 4.0 maturity models has grown exponentially in recent years, this study is the first to develop a multi-dimensional analytical indicator to measure Industry 4.0 maturity and readiness.

Purpose Environmental sustainability is quickly becoming one of the most critical issues in industry development. This study aims to conduct a systematic literature review through which the author can provide various research areas to work on for future researchers and provide insight into Industry 4.0 and environmental sustainability. Design/methodology/approach This study accomplishes this by performing a backward analysis using text mining on the Scopus database. Latent semantic analysis (LSA) was used to analyze the corpus of 4,364 articles published between 2013 and 2023. The authors generated ten clusters using keywords in the industrial revolution and environmental sustainability domain, highlighting ten research avenues for further exploration. Findings In this study, three research questions discuss the role of environmental sustainability with Industry 4.0. The author predicted ten clusters treated as recent trends on which more insight is required from future researchers. The authors provided year-wise analysis, top authors, top countries, top sources and network analysis related to the topic. Finally, the study provided industrialization’s effect on environmental sustainability and the future aspect of automation. Research limitations/implications The reliability of the current study may be compromised, notwithstanding the size of the sample used. Poor retrieval of the literature corpus can be attributed to the limitations imposed by the search words, synonyms, string construction and variety of search engines used, as well as to the accurate exclusion of results for which the search string is insufficient. Originality/value This research is the first-ever study in which a natural language processing technique is implemented to predict future research areas based on the keywords–document relationship.

PurposeThe need to improve sustainability in manufacturing firms, which would allow them to reduce the emission of pollutants and the generation of industrial waste, has stimulated the adoption of circular economy (CE) alongside lean manufacturing (LM) practices to significantly improve the sustainable performance of organizations. However, empirical evidence provided in previous studies and that has related the practices of LM, CE and sustainable performance do not allow establishing an interconnection between these three concepts. Therefore, this paper fills this gap in the literature by exploring the relationship between these three concepts.Design/methodology/approachA quantitative study in which data were collected from 460 managers working in the automotive industry in Mexico was conducted. The data allowed the testing and validation of four hypotheses through the use of partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS SEM).FindingsThe results obtained suggest that LM practices have a significant positive influence both on sustainable performance and CE. In turn, the results also demonstrate the existence of a significant positive relationship between CE and the sustainable performance of manufacturing firms in the automotive industry as well as that CE has a positive role in mediating the interconnection between LM practices and sustainable performance.Practical implicationsThe results obtained from the present study will allow entrepreneurs in the automotive industry and industry professionals as well as government authorities to formulate more effective policies and strategies to support the improvement of environmental sustainability performance in the manufacturing sector.Originality/valueThis is one of the first studies that have investigated the relationship between LM, CE and sustainable performance, particularly, in the automotive sector.

Purpose The main purpose of this study is to explore different aspects of the Green Lean Six Sigma (GLSS) approach, application status and potential benefits from a comprehensive review of the literature and provide an avenue for future research work. This study also provides a conceptual framework for GLSS. Design/methodology/approach To do a systematic analysis of the literature, a systematic literature review methodology has been used in this research work. From the reputed databases, 140 articles were identified to explore hidden aspects of GLSS. Exploration of articles in different continents, year-wise, approach-wise and journal-wise was also done to find the execution status of GLSS. Findings This study depicts that GLSS implementation is increasing year by year, and it leads to considerable improvement in all dimensions of sustainability. Enablers, barriers, tools and potential benefits that foster the execution of GLSS in industrial organizations are also identified based on a systematic review of the literature. Originality/value The study’s uniqueness lies in that, to the best of the authors’ knowledge, this study is the first of its kind that depicts the execution status of GLSS, and its different facets, explores different available frameworks and provides avenues for potential research in this area for potential researchers and practitioners.

PurposeGreen Lean tools are aligned with the Circular Economy strategy as they aim at reducing waste, however, they miss the creation of value through waste. Therefore, this paper investigates whether the current implementation of the Green Lean strategy promotes the introduction of the Circular philosophy to achieve sustainable management production processes. It analyses how the resources were managed by implementing the different strategies and tools presented in Green Lean case studies under the lens of Circular Economy and highlights future research paths on the Circular Lean integration.Design/methodology/approachAn analysis of the implementation of Green Lean case studies, selected through a Systematic Literature Review, from the manufacturing sector is conducted.FindingsThe majority of Green Lean implementations were aimed at minimizing waste, which is aligned with the narrowing strategy of Circular Economy and only a few cases studies aimed at closing the production cycles. Even though the main results indicate that being eco-efficient is a good starting point to move towards sustainability, from a Circular Economy point of view, this approach could remain limited. Therefore, the current contribution of Green Lean to the implementation of circular practices is limited. It can be concluded that introducing the circular philosophy in the Green Lean methodology can be achieved through redirecting Green Lean from waste reduction towards a value creation focus.Originality/valueThe originality of this paper is that it provides a critical review of the literature on the topic of Green Lean integration and Circular Economy.

Purpose This paper aims to deal with the selection of the sustainability-oriented Green Lean Six Sigma (GLS) project for the manufacturing industry in the complex decision-making environment. Moreover, the study also proposes a GLS implementation framework for improved organizational performance. Design/methodology/approach GLS project selection has been done based on the six sustainability-oriented criteria formed from 17 sub-criteria (found from the literature and developed by authors). The weights of the criteria have been determined through the entropy method. The projects have been ranked based on the criteria through the advanced decision-making approach: grey relation analysis (GRA). The results of the study were validated using best worst method and sensitivity analysis. Findings It has been found that the productivity-related criterion is the most significant among other criteria with entropy weight of 0.2721. GRA has been used in this research work to rank the potential GLS projects in a manufacturing industry based on six sustainability criteria, to select a project that exhibits the maximum potential for sustainable improvement. The machine shop has been found as the most significant GLS project with grey relation grade of 0.4742. Practical implications The present study facilitates practitioners and industrial managers to implement an inclusive GLS approach for improved sustainability dynamics through effective GLS project selection and implementation framework. Originality/value With increased globalized competition in recent times, new projects are being considered as the foundation stone for organizational success. The decision-making becomes quite complex to select an effective project due to the intriguing nature of various criteria, sub-criteria and different aspects of sustainability. To the best of the authors’ knowledge, the present study is the first of its kind that provides ways for the selection of sustainability-oriented GLS projects.

The fashion industry’s transition to Sustainable Sourcing (SS) is crucial to address some of the social and environmental problems faced by societies. While previous research has identified SS implementation barriers in the mainstream fashion industry, this article provides a methodical identification, validation, and prioritization of the 20 key SS implementation barriers for the global apparel and fashion-luxury sector. The paper employs a multi-phase research methodology to benchmark the SS implementation barriers in the apparel and fashion-luxury sector. These barriers were analysed through 154 responses received from global SS professionals by employing a survey questionnaire. Through an Exploratory Factor Analysis (EFA), the barriers were categorized into six unique dimensions. To establish their importance, an analytical hierarchy process (AHP) analysis further provided a global ranking of the identified barriers. The results of the study revealed that ‘Management, Government Support, and Infrastructure Barriers’ hold the most significant importance among all barrier dimensions, followed by ‘Material Barriers’, ‘Finance Barriers’, ‘Supplier Barriers’, ‘Certificates and Customer Perceptions’, and ‘Sustainable Packaging and Human Resource Barriers’. Furthermore, the results showed that specific barriers such as ‘Undersupply of Sustainable Raw Materials’, ‘Insufficient Commitment from Top Management’, and ‘Inadequate Awareness’ are the top three barriers according to global ranking. The research theoretically contributes by identifying and ranking the SS barriers that may hinder the efforts of the fashion sector to become more sustainable. This will facilitate researchers, sourcing professionals, fashion retailers, policymakers, and governing bodies in the formulation and deployment of dynamic strategies to overcome them and successfully implement SS practices.

Purpose Industries and businesses are pursuing Industry 4.0 technologies as well as adopting a circular approach focused on improving manufacturing processes through the reduction of wastes, CO2 emissions and mineral exploration to mitigate the impact of climate change. In this sense, additive manufacturing (AM), often referred to as 3D printing, can play a key role in the closed-loop of operations. However, academics and practitioners have scarcely discussed the feasibility of implementing AM alongside circular economy (CE) practices, the techniques and methods that this would require, or how AM could benefit sustainability and circularity. To address these gaps, this paper proposes a novel circular sustainable 3D printing model for scrap recycling in the automotive industry.Design/methodology/approach The methodology uses a literature review-based approach followed by empirical research using metal scraps as the raw material for fabricating a powder to input a metal 3D printer for generating sustainable automotive components. A conceptual sustainable circular model for the automotive industry is proposed. Next, is conducted a focus group comprises AM and automotive industry experts for evaluations.Findings The results indicate that the proposed model can be used to reintroduce waste back into the manufacturing chain as raw material for the on-demand manufacture and supply of automotive components and that it may also have social and environmental implications.Originality/value This paper’s contributions are threefold: it explores the combined use of Industry 4.0 (I4.0), CE and sustainability in the automotive industry, develops a new model to support the circularity and sustainability of the scrap chain and proposes the use of AM as a catalyst of CE practices by reproducing recycled components with a 3D printer for prototypes or fully functioning components.

PurposeManufacturing organisations are striving towards adapting and responding to the unprecedented challenges posed by the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, along with the operations research streams endeavouring to support their recovery. With a view to bridging our knowledge gap on the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the manufacturing operations, this paper investigates the key challenges and strategies formulated by manufacturing organisations operating in the Northern region of Cyprus.Design/methodology/approachThe research was conducted through 10 in-depth interviews that analyzed the effects of the pandemic, the associated causes and the response strategies implemented.FindingsThe effects of the pandemic on the manufacturing organisations investigated are identified, along with the associated causes, and the response strategies deployed. Learnings and countermeasures implemented to date are established in light of the insights captured from the practitioners.Originality/valueContributions are made to the body of knowledge on manufacturing management and manufacturing supply chain resilience through fostering our understanding of the impacts that the pandemic had on manufacturing organisations, and practical contributions are presented through evidencing and transferring of the operations management knowledge and solutions devised in various sectors to date.