Rethinking supply chain maturity: a capability-based model integrating resilience, digitalization, and sustainability

Purpose This study develops and empirically validates a multidimensional, capability-based model of supply chain maturity that integrates resilience, digitalization, and sustainability, three critical dimensions increasingly shaping supply chain competitiveness and adaptability. Design/methodology/approach Grounded in the resource-based view and dynamic capabilities theory, the model conceptualizes supply chain maturity as a second-order reflective construct composed of seven interrelated dimensions: strategic alignment, operational excellence, relational collaboration, organizational and human capabilities, risk and resilience management, informational and technological integration, and sustainable development. The model was tested using Partial Least Squares Path Modeling (PLS-PM) on survey data collected from 115 supply chain professionals across diverse manufacturing and process industries. Findings The results confirm the model's reliability, validity, and strong explanatory power. Operational excellence, strategic alignment, and technological integration emerged as key maturity enablers, while resilience and sustainability capabilities remain comparatively underdeveloped. The findings highlight a typical pattern of maturity asymmetry and underscore the importance of rebalancing capability portfolios to foster resilient, adaptive, and sustainable supply chains. Research limitations/implications The cross-sectional design offers a static view of maturity and does not capture dynamic evolution over time. The model focuses primarily on internal organizational capabilities, suggesting a need for future research on inter-organizational and network-level maturity. Additionally, while procedural safeguards were applied, common method bias cannot be entirely ruled out. Practical implications The validated maturity model offers managers a robust diagnostic tool to assess current capability profiles, benchmark maturity against peers, and guide targeted capability development. It supports evidence-based decision-making for strategic investments and fosters cross-functional and network-wide integration in increasingly collaborative supply chain ecosystems. Originality/value This study advances the maturity literature by offering one of the first empirically validated, capability-based, and multidimensional maturity models that fully integrates resilience and sustainability alongside digitalization. The model provides both theoretical insights and actionable guidance for navigating the complex, volatile landscape of modern supply chains.