Examining the interplay between organizational dynamic capabilities, visibility and Industry4.0 technologies: A supply chain resilience perspective for pharmaceutical manufacturing firms

The manufacturing sector contributes to 16% of the global GDP and plays a phenomenal role in economic growth, employment creation and technological innovations. Based on Dynamic Capability and Information Processing theories as the guiding theoretical frameworks, this research examines the effect of Supply Chain Dynamic Capabilities on Resilience of the pharmaceutical manufacturing firms when subject to the application of Industry4.0 technological capabilities. In this regard, the data were gathered from 458 respondents employed in pharmaceutical manufacturing firms listed on the Census of Manufacturing Industries (CMI) and subsequently analyzed using SmartPLS for testing the relationship between the model variables. The research results revealed a positive relationship between Supply Chain Dynamic Capabilities, Industry4.0 (I4.0), Supply Chain Visibility and Supply Chain Resilience. Moreover, Industry4.0 and Supply Chain Visibility positively mediated the relationship between Supply Chain Dynamic Capabilities and Supply Chain Resilience. Theoretically speaking, this research successfully identified some key organizational antecedents that served as significant drivers towards building resilient supply chains. In addition, it offers an empirically-validated Supply Chain Resilience framework, aimed at enhancing the robustness of the supply chain operations. On the practical front, given that the pharmaceutical manufacturing firms have long been strategizing to enhance their supply chain resilience in the wake of unanticipated supply chain disruptions, this research thus offers some practical recommendations and policy insights on how these firms can adopt emerging technologies and augment their existing pool of dynamic capabilities with a view to achieving resilient supply chains and consequently gaining a competitive advantage.