Exploring the role of Industry 4.0 capabilities in managing supply base complexity and enhancing supply chain agility

Grounded in Organizational Information-Processing Theory, this study aims to explore the interrelationship between Industry 4.0 (I4.0) capabilities, supply base complexity, and supply chain agility. Data were collected from 338 Spanish focal companies. Analysis was conducted using cluster analysis a...

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Authors: Oliveira Dias, Diéssica de; Moyano Fuentes, José; Maqueira, Juan Manuel
Format: Article
Publication date:2026
Country:España
Institution:Universidad de Alcalá (UAH)
Repository:e_Buah Biblioteca Digital Universidad de Alcalá
Language:English
OAI Identifier:oai:ebuah.uah.es:10017/68371
Online Access:http://hdl.handle.net/10017/68371
https://dx.doi.org/10.1108/JEIM-04-2025-0268
Access Level:Open access
Keyword:Industry 4.0
Information-Processing Theory
Supply Chain Agility, Supply Chain Complexity.
Economía
Empresa
Economics
Management science
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author Oliveira Dias, Diéssica de
author2 Moyano Fuentes, José
Maqueira, Juan Manuel
author2_role author
author
author_browse Maqueira, Juan Manuel
Moyano Fuentes, José
Oliveira Dias, Diéssica de
author_facet Oliveira Dias, Diéssica de
Moyano Fuentes, José
Maqueira, Juan Manuel
author_role author
collection e_Buah Biblioteca Digital Universidad de Alcalá
description Grounded in Organizational Information-Processing Theory, this study aims to explore the interrelationship between Industry 4.0 (I4.0) capabilities, supply base complexity, and supply chain agility. Data were collected from 338 Spanish focal companies. Analysis was conducted using cluster analysis and analysis of variance. Results reveal that I4.0 exploration, I4.0 exploitation, and horizontal complexity, are positively associated with supply chain agility, while delivery complexity is negatively associated. However, when horizontal complexity is low or delivery complexity is high, companies with greater I4.0 exploration and exploitation capabilities achieve significantly higher supply chain agility than those with lower I4.0 exploration and exploitation capability levels. Managers can enhance supply chain agility by leveraging I4.0 capabilities, particularly in environments with low horizontal complexity or high delivery complexity. The findings advance our understanding of how supply base complexity interacts with I4.0 capabilities to influence supply chain agility and highlight complexity's role as a double-edged sword.
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language eng
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network_name_str España
oai_identifier_str oai:ebuah.uah.es:10017/68371
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spelling Exploring the role of Industry 4.0 capabilities in managing supply base complexity and enhancing supply chain agility Oliveira Dias, Diéssica de Moyano Fuentes, José Maqueira, Juan Manuel Industry 4.0 Information-Processing Theory Supply Chain Agility, Supply Chain Complexity. Economía Empresa Economics Management science Grounded in Organizational Information-Processing Theory, this study aims to explore the interrelationship between Industry 4.0 (I4.0) capabilities, supply base complexity, and supply chain agility. Data were collected from 338 Spanish focal companies. Analysis was conducted using cluster analysis and analysis of variance. Results reveal that I4.0 exploration, I4.0 exploitation, and horizontal complexity, are positively associated with supply chain agility, while delivery complexity is negatively associated. However, when horizontal complexity is low or delivery complexity is high, companies with greater I4.0 exploration and exploitation capabilities achieve significantly higher supply chain agility than those with lower I4.0 exploration and exploitation capability levels. Managers can enhance supply chain agility by leveraging I4.0 capabilities, particularly in environments with low horizontal complexity or high delivery complexity. The findings advance our understanding of how supply base complexity interacts with I4.0 capabilities to influence supply chain agility and highlight complexity's role as a double-edged sword. http://hdl.handle.net/10017/68371 https://dx.doi.org/10.1108/JEIM-04-2025-0268
spellingShingle Exploring the role of Industry 4.0 capabilities in managing supply base complexity and enhancing supply chain agility
Oliveira Dias, Diéssica de
Industry 4.0
Information-Processing Theory
Supply Chain Agility, Supply Chain Complexity.
Economía
Empresa
Economics
Management science
title Exploring the role of Industry 4.0 capabilities in managing supply base complexity and enhancing supply chain agility
title_full Exploring the role of Industry 4.0 capabilities in managing supply base complexity and enhancing supply chain agility
title_fullStr Exploring the role of Industry 4.0 capabilities in managing supply base complexity and enhancing supply chain agility
title_full_unstemmed Exploring the role of Industry 4.0 capabilities in managing supply base complexity and enhancing supply chain agility
title_short Exploring the role of Industry 4.0 capabilities in managing supply base complexity and enhancing supply chain agility
title_sort Exploring the role of Industry 4.0 capabilities in managing supply base complexity and enhancing supply chain agility
topic Industry 4.0
Information-Processing Theory
Supply Chain Agility, Supply Chain Complexity.
Economía
Empresa
Economics
Management science
topic_facet Industry 4.0
Information-Processing Theory
Supply Chain Agility, Supply Chain Complexity.
Economía
Empresa
Economics
Management science
url http://hdl.handle.net/10017/68371
https://dx.doi.org/10.1108/JEIM-04-2025-0268