The stabilizing effect of intelligent manufacturing policy on supply chains: analysis from the new energy vehicle industry

Purpose In the context of global value chain restructuring, intensifying industrial competition, and rapid technological change, the role of intelligent manufacturing in shaping supply chain stability has become an important issue in industrial strategy and operations management. This study aims to investigate whether and how intelligent manufacturing pilot policies enhance supply chain stability under global uncertainties. Design/methodology/approach Drawing on socio-technical systems theory and the perspective of technological sovereignty, this study employs a difference-in-differences model based on data from listed firms in China's A-share new energy vehicle industry from 2010 to 2024 to examine the stabilizing effects of intelligent manufacturing pilots. Findings Intelligent manufacturing pilot policies significantly enhance supply chain stability by reducing supplier volatility and customer volatility. This effect is positively moderated by diversification breakthrough, information flow facilitation, and physical flow optimization. The stabilizing effect is more pronounced among firms with stronger demand for cross-boundary innovation and higher levels of supply-demand uncertainty. Originality/value This study integrates socio-technical systems theory and technological sovereignty, offering new insights into how intelligent technologies reshape supply chain stability amid global value chain restructuring.