The Impact of Intelligent Manufacturing on Corporate Environmental Performance of High-tech Manufacturing Enterprises in the Pearl River Delta Region of China

Against the backdrop of China's "dual carbon" goals and the accelerating green transformation of the manufacturing industry, this study investigates the impact of Intelligent Manufacturing (IM)-the deep integration of digital technologies and advanced manufacturing-on Corporate Environmental Performance (CEP) in high-tech manufacturing enterprises in the Pearl River Delta region.Drawing on survey data from 413 employees, the study employs SPSS and SmartPLS to examine direct, mediating, and moderating effects within a multidimensional analytical framework.The results show that IM significantly improves CEP ( = 0.147, p < 0.01).Green Innovation (GI) positively influences CEP ( = 0.178, p < 0.01), and Green Supply Chain Collaboration (GSCC) also has a significant positive impact ( = 0.219, p < 0.01).Mediation analysis confirms that GI ( = 0.071, p < 0.001) and GSCC ( = 0.061, p < 0.001) serve as critical mediators, indicating that IM enhances CEP primarily by strengthening innovation capability and advancing supply chain collaboration.Moreover, Top Management's Environmental Awareness (TMEA) positively moderates the IM-CEP relationship ( = 0.138, p < 0.01), amplifying the effectiveness of IM when executives demonstrate stronger environmental commitment.Overall, the study highlights IM's dual role as both a technological driver and a sustainability enabler, offering robust theoretical support and practical guidance for enterprises seeking the synergistic development of intelligent manufacturing and green transformation under the national low-carbon strategy.