Supply chain ambidexterity: beyond the interplay between emerging Industry 4.0 technologies and lean supply chain management

Purpose Amid an increasingly volatile landscape, firms face pressure to build more adaptive and efficient supply chains (SC). Lean Supply Chain Management (LSCM) represents a strategic response, yet extending Lean beyond the firm remains challenging. This study leverages Resource Orchestration Theory (ROT) to analyze how the complementarity between the use of emerging Industry 4.0 (I4.0) technology in the SC and supply chain ambidexterity (SCA) drives LSCM implementation. Design/methodology/approach Building on original survey data from 209 medium-sized Spanish focal manufacturing enterprises, Covariance-Based Structural Equation Modeling (CB-SEM) is used to analyze the proposed hypotheses. Findings The results show that implementing emerging I4.0 technologies across the SC positively influences LSCM implementation, while SCA partially mediates this relationship. It indicates that although I4.0 technology adoption can directly enhance LSCM, its effectiveness is significantly amplified when complemented by SCA. Additionally, LSCM implementation has been confirmed to improve operational performance. Practical implications This research offers insights to firms seeking to adopt the LSCM by identifying key antecedents. It helps managers understand how using emerging I4.0 technology supports SC processes and fosters innovative solutions. To achieve superior operational performance, managers should focus not only on implementing I4.0 technologies at the SC level but also on developing SCA. Originality/value This paper breaks new ground by uncovering SCA as the missing link that unlocks the full potential of emerging I4.0 technologies in LSCM. Unlike prior works focused on direct effects, we reveal a deeper, indirect pathway through SCA. It enables firms to balance the exploration and exploitation in SC process management.