A Bibliometric Systematic Literature Review of Capacity Building for Green Manufacturing in SMEs

Capacity building for green manufacturing is increasingly vital as small and medium‐sized enterprises (SMEs) face intensifying environmental pressures and sustainability requirements. However, existing research remains fragmented, offering limited integrated understanding of how SMEs develop capabilities for sustainable production. Accordingly, this study conducts a bibliometric systematic literature review to map the intellectual structure, thematic evolution, and emerging research directions on SME green manufacturing capacity building. Guided by the PRISMA framework, data were retrieved from Scopus covering 2001–2025, yielding 691 eligible publications. Bibliometric techniques including performance analysis, co‐authorship, bibliographic coupling, and keyword co‐occurrence were applied. The results reveal rapid growth in the field, dominated by sustainability and manufacturing management journals, yet characterized by fragmented collaboration networks and diverse thematic clusters. Core themes include green innovation, cleaner production, resource efficiency, and the rising role of digitalization. The findings highlight the need for systemic capability development supported by coordinated green industrial ecosystems.