Navigating the sustainable Industry 4.0 transformation in supply chains: a systematic review and future research agenda

Despite the growing research interest in mapping the sustainability potential of Industry 4.0 (I4.0), the supply chain perspective is still relatively nascent and fragmented. As modern supply chains undergo simultaneous digital and sustainable transformation, it is important to understand the pathways and mechanisms through which I4.0 can improve supply chain sustainability (SCS). This study conducts a systematic literature review of 96 peer-reviewed journal articles to explain the relationship between I4.0 and SCS. Thematic analysis using the context-intervention-mechanism-outcome (CIMO) logic systematically converged the extant literature into an I4.0 capabilities framework for SCS. Moreover, theory-context-characteristics-methodology (TCCM) provided a multi-dimensional view of the research gaps identified from the literature to propose future research directions. Overall, the results guide how I4.0 technologies and enablers as interventions, under varying contexts, generate mechanisms that improve SCS outcomes. This research contributes to both theory and practice by providing a deeper understanding of the connection between I4.0 and SCS and how relevant I4.0 related capabilities can be effectively developed to achieve sustainability in supply chains.