Robotics as a Catalyst for Sustainable Food Manufacturing: A Malaysian Empirical Study

ABSTRACT The need to achieve precision, efficiency, and sustainability in the industrial environment has led robotics to become one of the enabling technologies in contemporary industrial systems. Robots have been used in the food manufacturing industry more frequently in repetitive handling, packaging, quality checks, and hygiene‐critical operations. This article explores how robotics can be applied to sustainability‐based performance using empirical findings based on structural equation modelling and qualitative information on the industry. Results have shown that the application of robotics plays a great role in economic, environmental, and social performance outcomes. Feedback of the interview focused on greater regularity, less human exposure, a high possibility of contamination, and less waste on a product. However, these advantages are accompanied by the primary difficulties of the implementation cost, the shortage of skilled operators, and the insufficient preparedness of SMEs. The paper finds that robotics will be a key technology facilitator in sustainable food processing in the future, which will be in line with global Industry 4.0 ambitions and national sustainability goals. Suggestions for adoption strategies and research development are addressed.