Driving carbon neutrality and socioeconomic sustainability through Supply Chain Quality Management 4.0: an enterprise information perspective

Purpose This study pioneers an investigation into how Supply Chain Quality Management 4.0 (SCQM4.0), defined as the novel integration of cutting-edge Industry 4.0 technologies with established supply chain and quality management principles, can holistically enhance sustainable performance across crucial economic, carbon neutrality and social dimensions. Focusing on Vietnam’s vibrant and strategically significant garment industry, this research aims to provide unprecedented empirical insights into how enterprises in a developing economy can effectively leverage this advanced digital transformation for both carbon neutrality and broader socioeconomic sustainability, addressing a significant void in current literature on this integrated approach. Design/methodology/approach Grounded in the technology-organization-environment framework, this study adopts a quantitative approach using structural equation modelling based on data from 195 garment enterprises in Vietnam. The analysis examines the influence of internal (e.g. top management support, workforce skills and IT infrastructure) and external (e.g. supply chain integration) SCQM4.0 enablers on sustainable performance. Findings The study demonstrates that top management support, human resource competencies, IT infrastructure and supply chain integration are critical enablers of sustainable performance within the context of SCQM4.0. Conversely, both technological awareness and vertical information sharing exhibit only limited direct influence on sustainability outcomes. These results highlight the importance of a systemic and integrated enterprise information management approach to effectively drive carbon neutrality and socioeconomic sustainability. The proposed model accounts for 56% of the variance in sustainable performance, underscoring its explanatory power and practical relevance. Originality/value This research stands out as one of the initial empirical assessments to explore the multi-dimensional impacts of SCQM4.0 on sustainability within a developing economy context, specifically Vietnam's garment industry. It significantly extends existing literature by rigorously examining how established relationships between various SCQM4.0 enablers and sustainable performance outcomes manifest within this novel, integrated framework and specific industrial context. By offering a comprehensive view of SCQM4.0 and its real-world application through integrated enterprise information systems, the study’s findings yield actionable strategies for decision-makers to design highly effective, sustainability-driven digital transformation initiatives that align with both business objectives and critical societal goals.