Exploratory Data Analysis of Sustainability Performance Metrics in Automotive MSMEs

Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) play a crucial role in the manufacturing sector of India, yet they are grappling with numerous obstacles when it comes to sustainability and Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) practices. In this study, the sustainability performance of 127 automotive components MSMEs of Pune, Chakan, Satara, Nashik, and Kolhapur has been evaluated. The goal is to identify Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) that have an impact on the performance of an organization, including economic, environmental and social indicators. A mixed-method approach of structured questionnaires and interviews was used. To find patterns in sustainability and important KPIs, Exploratory Data Analysis (EDA), Principal Component Analysis (PCA), and clustering techniques were used. Results show that Customer Retention (CR), Resource Efficiency (RE), and Training & Development (TD) are the most significant factors impacting sustainability performance. Pune- and Chakan-based firms showed marginally better sustainability practices, and there were significant variations between different levels in the hierarchy of employees. The findings offer practical implications for MSMEs, policy makers, and industry stakeholders to reinforce the implementation of ESG, enhance the performance of the organizations, and help sustainable industrial development.