LEVERAGING DIGITAL LEAN AND OPERATIONAL EXCELLENCE TO BOOST SUPPLY CHAIN RESILIENCE AND SUSTAINABILITY

Abstract

In the current industrial landscape, the key strategies for improving efficiency are lean manufacturing and digitalisation. However, adoption of both is at low levels in Saudi organisations. This research addresses this gap. This research aimed to investigate how the integration of Digital Lean practices and Operational Excellence frameworks can strengthen Supply Chain Resilience and advance Sustainability outcomes. Six hypotheses were derived from the aim. A mixed method was used, which consisted of a survey of 847 Saudi organisations that have implemented Digital Lean and interviews with 25 senior managers and supply chain specialists.   All six hypotheses formed from this aim were supported by the findings. There was good literature support for the findings. The results of this study provide robust evidence that digital lean practices significantly enhance supply chain resilience and sustainability performance in Saudi organisations. Key findings include: (1) Digital lean implementation directly and positively impacts both supply chain resilience and sustainability, with operational excellence serving as a partial mediator; (2) The integration of digital technologies with traditional lean principles creates synergistic effects that exceed the benefits of either approach alone; (3) Real-time visibility and predictive capabilities enabled by digital tools are the primary mechanisms through which resilience is enhanced; (4) Organizational size moderates the effectiveness of digital lean, with larger organizations achieving stronger impacts; (5) Sector-specific factors influence adoption patterns, with capital-intensive industries showing higher implementation levels; and (6) Cultural factors, leadership commitment, and change management capabilities are critical determinants of successful digital lean implementation in the Saudi context.