A Bibliometric Analysis of Sustainable Competitive Advantage in the Manufacturing Industry

The manufacturing industry is under increasing pressure to adopt sustainable development strategies because of mounting resource scarcity and growing environmental concerns. This study aims to systematically investigate the knowledge structure, current research hotspots, and future trends related to sustainable competitive advantage (SCA) within the manufacturing sector. The research employs a mixed-method approach that integrates bibliometric analysis using VOSviewer and Bibliometrics with qualitative content analysis to achieve this objective. A total of 337 peer-reviewed articles published between 2004 and 2024 were retrieved from the Web of Science Core Collection using a refined keyword search strategy. Through the construction of co-authorship networks, keyword co-occurrence maps, cluster analyses, and topic evolution visualizations, the study identifies five major research dimensions. It highlights the role of technological innovation, green supply chains, and institutional pressure in shaping SCA. The findings contribute to a comprehensive understanding of the field and provide actionable insights for researchers and practitioners aiming to foster sustainable and competitive development in manufacturing.