Employing Industry 4.0 technologies has been recognized to facilitate data‐driven decision‐making and real‐time operational insights. While such technologies are poised to streamline supply chains for increased efficiency, the nexus between these technologies and environmental sustainability remains underexplored. This study applies the resource‐based view and network theories to assess the role of Industry 4.0 in fostering eco‐product innovation through supply chain integration. Data from 496 Indian manufacturing firms were analyzed using structural equation modeling to probe the relationships between Industry 4.0 adoption, supply chain integration, and eco‐product innovation capability. Results demonstrate that Industry 4.0 technologies have a positive direct effect on supply chain integration. However, when considering the capability for eco‐product innovation, the role of Industry 4.0 is contingent upon the degree of supply chain integration at upstream, internal, and downstream stages. The findings reveal that supply chain integration acts as a pivotal mediator in harnessing Industry 4.0 for eco‐product innovation. The direct influence of Industry 4.0 on eco‐innovation capability was found to be insignificant, underscoring the integrated approach to supply chain management as critical for environmental advancements. This work contributes a nuanced understanding of how manufacturers can strategically employ Industry 4.0 to bolster their environmental and competitive positioning, providing a comprehensive framework for enhancing eco‐product innovation capability.

中文翻译：

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工业4.0采用和生态产品创新能力——理解供应链整合的作用


采用工业 4.0 技术已被认为可以促进数据驱动的决策和实时运营洞察。虽然这些技术有望简化供应链以提高效率，但这些技术与环境可持续性之间的联系仍未得到充分探索。本研究应用基于资源的观点和网络理论来评估工业 4.0 通过供应链整合促进生态产品创新的作用。使用结构方程模型分析了 496 家印度制造企业的数据，以探讨工业 4.0 采用、供应链整合和生态产品创新能力之间的关系。结果表明，工业 4.0 技术对供应链整合具有积极的直接影响。但从生态产品创新能力来看，工业4.0的作用取决于上下游供应链的整合程度。研究结果表明，供应链整合在利用工业 4.0 进行生态产品创新方面发挥着关键的中介作用。工业 4.0 对生态创新能力的直接影响并不显着，这凸显了供应链管理的综合方法对于环境进步的关键。这项工作有助于深入了解制造商如何战略性地利用工业 4.0 来增强其环境和竞争地位，并为增强生态产品创新能力提供全面的框架。