The Intelligent Transformation Path of Manufacturing Enterprises:Configuration Analysis Based on TOE Theory
In the digital economy era,smart manufacturing acts as the main battlefield for the integration of a new round of technological revolution and manufacturing.Intelligent transformation has become the key for manufacturing enterprises to gain sustainable competitive advantages.However,due to their unique characteristics,different enterprises need to reasonably choose their transformation paths based on their internal and external conditions.To delve into the dynamic process of intelligent transformation in manufacturing enterprises,this study constructs a theoretical framework incorporating six key antecedent conditions:manufacturing capabilities,technology application,technological innovation,enterprise scale,human resources,and financial support,using the"technology-organization-environment"(TOE)analytical framework.The fuzzy-set qualitative comparative analysis(fsQCA)is employed to analyze 86 successfully transformed manufacturing enterprises in China from 2015 to 2021 using Python,exploring the configuration effects of intelligent transformation in manufacturing enterprises across the time axis.This research aims to clarify transformation paths for manufacturing enterprises with varying technological foundations,internal resources,and environmental dependencies.The findings reveal that technological factors are crucial in enhancing the level of smart manufacturing;the consistency levels of the five configurations show an upward trend during the study period.Dividing enterprises into large-scale and small-to-medium-sized enterprises(SMEs)facilitates the identification of distinct paths for smart transformation in manufacturing.Both categories benefit from the synergistic effects of multiple factors.Large enterprises'transformation paths(configurations 1 and configurations 4)are characterized by the core variable of technology application,complemented by other factors to achieve intelligent transformation.SMEs'transformation paths(configurations 2,configurations 3,and configurations 5)are primarily driven by SMEs,with multiple factors working in concert to facilitate intelligent transformation.Industry characteristics exhibit significant heterogeneity in the choice of intelligent transformation paths.The five paths show lower explanatory power for the food,printing,and furniture manufacturing industries.The consistency of all five paths displays an upward trend during the study period,with slight declines around 2020,possibly attributed to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.Consequently,manufacturing enterprises should complete their intelligent transformation by introducing industrial robots into production processes to automate production.
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