Toward sustainable development in mechanical engineering: an MCDM framework for technology management in Vietnam

This study investigates the role of Management of Technology (MoT) in enhancing the sustainable competitiveness of firms, with a focus on Vietnam’s mechanical engineering sector amid rapid technological change and intensifying global competition. To identify key factors driving sustainable competitiveness, the study uses a hybrid multi-criteria decision making (MCDM) framework integrating Spherical Fuzzy AHP, TOPSIS, and EDAS. Spherical Fuzzy AHP is applied to determine the relative importance of eight evaluation criteria, encompassing core dimensions of sustainable technology management, including environmentally friendly technology, sustainable supply chain management, talent development and retention, international quality compliance; competitive product development, R&D investment, core technological mastery, and innovation and technology strategy. TOPSIS is then used to rank alternative technology management solutions based on their proximity to an ideal sustainability-oriented profile, while EDAS serves as a complementary method to validate the robustness of the ranking results. The results show strong consistency between TOPSIS and EDAS in identifying the most effective alternatives. The findings highlight that to enhance sustainability, increased investment in R&D, core technologies, accelerated digitalization, and process optimization are critical for strengthening sustainable competitiveness. These insights offer practical implications for managers and policymakers seeking to promote technology-driven sustainable development in mechanical engineering industry.