Sustainable digitalization of manufacturing supply chains: An integrated framework for resilience, efficiency, and circularity

Dual forces of digitalization and environmental sustainability are redesigning the manufacturing supply chain architecture. It is well known that artificial intelligence (AI), Internet of Things (IoT), blockchain, and digital twins are essential facilitators of smart manufacturing. Nevertheless, the alignment with sustainability interests, including the circularity, resilience, and reduced emissions, is not even and immature in most of supply chain settings. This paper suggests an inclusive model, which connects digital enablers with three main sustainability outcomes (resilience, efficiency, and circularity) across the following supply chain facets as well as areas such as procurement, production, logistics, warehousing, and reverse logistics. Based on the socio-technical system theory, systems thinking concepts, and sustainability-driven innovation models, the model was formulated by literature synthesis, and it was also checked initially through real life cases studies of some of the top manufacturing companies. The results show that digitally empowered supply chains are in a tailored position to minimise carbon footprint, minimise waste, and increase agility under uncertainty. The article also contains managerial and policy suggestions, imminent obstructions in implementation, and avenues of future studies. This contribution brings the scalable and implementable roadmap to the sustainable digitalisation of the global manufacturing supply chains.