Developing a Resilient Supply Chain Model Based on Industry 4.0 in the Circular Printing Industry

Abstract

Enhancing supply chain resilience has become a central concern of contemporary management, particularly in industries facing environmental pressures and rapid technological change. Emerging Industry 4.0 technologies provide new opportunities to strengthen resilience capabilities within circular economy-oriented supply chains. This study aims to develop a resilient supply chain model based on Industry 4.0 within the circular printing industry. The research adopts a mixed-methods design comprising qualitative and quantitative phases. In the qualitative phase, a hybrid deductive–inductive content analysis was combined with causal–effect analysis to identify key resilience capacities. The qualitative sample included 20 experts consisting of senior managers, industry consultants, and academic specialists in technology management, supply chain management, and environmental studies, selected through purposive non-probability sampling. In the quantitative phase, data were collected through a full census of 107 experts working in printing companies. Findings from the qualitative phase identified four core dimensions of supply chain resilience: transformational capacity, absorptive capacity, adaptive capacity, and continuity capacity. Fuzzy DEMATEL analysis revealed that transformational capacity is the most influential dimension, exerting significant effects on absorptive, adaptive, and continuity capacities. Quantitative model testing confirmed that transformational capacity has a positive and significant impact on all other resilience capacities. Additionally, absorptive capacity positively and significantly influences both adaptive and continuity capacities, while adaptive capacity shows a significant positive relationship with continuity capacity. Overall, the results highlight the pivotal role of strategic digital transformation in enhancing supply chain resilience within the circular economy context. The proposed model provides practical and theoretical insights for managers seeking to leverage Industry 4.0 technologies to build resilient and sustainable supply chains in the circular printing industry.