Resilience capabilities and performance dimensions of manufacturing supply chains in a developing economy

Purpose This paper investigates whether resilience capabilities influence manufacturing performance dimensions. Specifically, it empirically analyses how supply chain agility, alertness, adaptability and preparedness affect manufacturing firms’ operational and sustainable (economic, social and environmental) performance aspects. Design/methodology/approach The paper employed a deductive approach and an explanatory design. It gathered survey data from 285 managers in 5,329 Ghanaian manufacturing firms and analysed it using structural equation modelling. Findings The study found resilience capabilities comprising agility, alertness and adaptability to significantly and positively predict changes in manufacturing firms’ sustainable (environmental, economic and social) and operational performance. However, the preparedness capability positively impacts the firms’ operational and environmental performance, not economic and social. Research limitations/implications This paper is restricted to Ghana’s manufacturing industry. Underpinned by the dynamic capabilities theory and extensive empirical reviews, the model was developed with four resilient capabilities and four manufacturing performance dimensions. Practical implications The study highlights the relevance of resilience in today’s highly disruptive manufacturing environment for achieving sustainable and operational performance. It encourages manufacturing firms to prioritise heavy investments in alertness, adaptability and agile capabilities to overcome supply chain disruptions and enhance sustainable and operational excellence. It also offers significant insights for policymakers, managers and industry players to advance resilience capabilities and swiftly detect and recover from emerging disturbances in manufacturing supply chains, leading to higher performance. Social implications The study contributes to resource conservation and a more sustainable future by projecting resilient capabilities in today’s disruptive environments. The shift towards SCR can influence public attitudes and opinions toward manufacturing and contribute to firms’ sustainability goals. Originality/value This study is the first to investigate the linkages between resilient capabilities and performance aspects simultaneously in less developed economies like Ghana. In these economies, manufacturing supply chains often face varying risks that continue to disrupt their operations and sustainability goals.