Manufacturing supply chains (SCs) in developing economies, such as Ghana, face diverse challenges due to their persistent exposure to disruptions from the external environment, which consequently affect their sustainable performance. The study aims to analyse how supply chain resilience (SCR) and technology innovation (TIN) influence sustainable performance (SUP) and examines the mediating role of TIN between SCR and SUP.
This quantitative research embraces an explanatory design. It randomly sampled 306 managers from a total of 5,329 manufacturing firms in Ghana. Data collected via a structured questionnaire were processed using SmartPLS 4.1 and analysed using structural equation modelling. The mediation effects were further analysed using variation accounted for (VAF).
SCR and TIN positively influence manufacturing firms’ SUP dimensions. TIN plays a complementary partial mediating role between (1) SCR and environmental performance and (2) SCR and social performance. Despite obtaining a significant value, TIN does not mediate between SCR and economic metrics due to its low VAF. Nevertheless, we advocate that TIN generally creates an essential channel through which SCR can enhance SUP metrics in disruptive manufacturing environments, such as Ghana.
The paper employed a quantitative approach, an explanatory design, and questionnaires. Although the research prioritised manufacturing firms in Ghana, a developing African country, its outcomes can be replicated in geographies with similar characteristics.
This research highlights the importance of investing heavily in resilient strategies and technological innovation to achieve the economic, social, and environmental objectives of manufacturing firms. Given our results, industry players, including government, supply chain practitioners and managers, can obtain valuable information to develop and implement resilient strategies while advancing technology innovation throughout their SCs. These strategic measures would enhance their economic, social and environmental performance.
By advocating for SCR and TIN in today’s highly turbulent business environment, the study contributes to resource conservation, a cleaner environment and a more sustainable future. Also, the shift towards SCR and TIN would influence public attitudes toward manufacturing and sustainability, championing sustainable performance in today’s disruptive and technologically advanced manufacturing environment.
This study’s originality lies in its analysis of the mediating effect of TIN between SCR and SUP in manufacturing firms of a developing economy, where disruptions and technological advancements have become prevalent. Although the beta coefficients were found to be higher than the indirect effects, the VAF values suggest that TIN still plays a considerable intervening role between SCR and SUP metrics, particularly in social and environmental contexts. The study encourages future researchers to replicate its model, helping to navigate the growing disruptions in modern manufacturing SCs and achieve excellence.
