Lean manufacturing, technological resilience and business sustainability: evidence from an emerging economy

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Purpose In resource-constrained and volatile environments typical of emerging economies, manufacturing firms face mounting pressure to enhance sustainability. While prior research has explored lean manufacturing and technological resilience separately, their integrated impact on business sustainability, particularly in disruption-prone environments, remains underexplored. Addressing this gap, the study investigates the mediating role of technological resilience in the lean–sustainability nexus, offering context-specific insights from small-scale manufacturers in Nigeria. Design/methodology/approach Quantitative survey research design was employed, using data from 406 Nigerian small-scale food and beverage manufacturers. Partial least squares structural equation modelling was applied to test the hypothesized relationships and to assess the mediating role of technological resilience. Findings The results reveal a partial mediation effect of technological resilience on the relationship between lean manufacturing and business sustainability. Lean manufacturing significantly enhances sustainability outcomes, but its impact is amplified when firms exhibit higher levels of technological resilience. Although lean manufacturing demonstrates a strong direct effect on sustainability, firms with higher technological resilience may experience additional gains, particularly in dynamic or uncertain environments. Thus, technological resilience acts as a contextual amplifier rather than a prerequisite. Originality/value The study concentrates on small-scale manufacturers in an emerging economy, which expands the existing knowledge base to include less-developed countries’ contexts and also presents empirical evidence on the alignment of lean practices with technological resilience as a means of improving sustainable performance. The results offer practical pointers for companies that are prone to fluctuating environments and support the global ongoing efforts towards achieving Sustainable Development Goal 9.

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