Currently, numerous companies intend to adopt digital transformation, seeking agility in their methodologies to reinvent products and services with higher quality, reduced costs and in shorter times. In the Peruvian context, the implementation of this transformation represents a significant challenge due to scarcity of resources, lack of experience and resistance to change. The objective of this research is to propose a digital transformation model that incorporates agile methodologies in order to improve production and competitiveness in manufacturing organizations. In methodological terms, the hypothetical deductive method was used, with a non-experimental cross-sectional design and a quantitative, descriptive and correlational approach. A questionnaire was applied to 110 managers in the manufacturing sector, obtaining a Cronbach’s alpha coefficient of 0.992. The results reveal that 65% of the participants consider that the level of innovation is regular, 88% think that the competition in their companies is of a regular level, and 76% perceive that the level of change is deficient. The findings highlight the importance of digital transformation in manufacturing companies, highlighting the adoption of agile methodologies as crucial to improving processes and productivity. In addition, innovation is essential to developing high-quality products and services, reducing costs and time. Digital transformation with agile methodologies redefines the value proposition, focusing on the customer and improving their digital experience, which differentiates companies in a competitive market.

This project analyzes the evolution of the manufacturing sector in Portugal from 2009 to 2021, focusing on the variations in the number of active companies across various subcategories, such as food, textiles, and metal product industries. The goal of this analysis is to understand the dynamics of growth and contraction within each sector, providing insights for companies to adjust their market and operational strategies. Key objectives include analyzing the overall evolution in the number of companies, identifying subcategories with notable changes, and providing a comprehensive analysis of observed trends and patterns. The study is based on data from PORDATA 2024, and the research employs temporal trend analysis, linear and quadratic regression, and the Pareto representation to identify patterns of growth and decline. By comparing annual data, the project uncovers periods of growth and decline, allowing for a deeper understanding of the sector’s dynamics. The findings also highlight variations in periods of economic crises and during the Covid-19 pandemic, and recommendations for action are presented to support businesses resilience and continuity. These results are valuable for companies within the manufacturing sectors analyzed and policy makers, guiding strategic decisions to navigate the complexities of the market dynamics and to ensuring long-term organizational sustainable success.

Small-scale businesses have long been recognized as an important part of economic development and integrating them with industrial parks is both recommended and necessary for long-term success. In line of this, the objective of this study was to investigate the role of IPs entrepreneurial ecosystem in boosting the capabilities of small businesses. Data were collected from 245 small manufacturing business owners via simple random sampling and analysed using multivariate regression analysis. Thus, the ability of small enterprises is positively impacted by the presence of a more robust and appropriate entrepreneurial ecosystem. Similarly, a firm’s resource capabilities are more impacted by the entrepreneurial ecosystem when there is a better link between academia and industry. Furthermore, entrepreneurial skills are found to play a mediating role between the entrepreneurial ecosystem and firms’ technological capabilities. Another finding revealed that managerial expertise significantly mediates entrepreneurial ecosystems and firms’ resource capabilities. This finding suggested that the policymakers, better to formulate policies that encourages small businesses to engage in the industrial parks which results in an inclusive firm’s performance.

Throughout the course of a project cycle, the many phases of project management—including planning, execution, control and monitoring, and ending—are integrated and executed. In modern firms, project management has become the dominant tool for managing change. Best practices have emerged due to global project management practices and company evolution. The primary goal was to investigate how project management approaches affected project performance of the Saudi Arabia Small and Medium Sized Enterprises (SMEs). This study investigated the impact of various project management practices including risk management, communication, leadership, and stakeholder management, on project performance in manufacturing SMEs in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. A quantitative research methodology was employed, with data collected from 250 employees (i.e., supply chain, finance and R&D managers/supervisors) across 8 SMEs. The results revealed that risk management, leadership practices, and stakeholder management significantly contribute to project performance. Surprisingly, no significant relationship was found between communication practices and project performance. The findings of this study emphasize the importance of effective risk management, strong leadership, and efficient stakeholder management in achieving successful project outcomes. Finance managers and R&D managers in Saudi manufacturing SMEs should lead and engage stakeholders to improve project performance. Supply chain managers must manage risk and maintain stakeholder relationships to avoid disruptions. Communication improvements, despite their small impact, are essential for departmental coordination. Global project management strategies tailored to local culture and business will improve project success.

This research explores the interactions within supply chains in the manufacturing sector, with a special emphasis on the distinctive obstacles encountered by the mosquito coil industry. The study is motivated by the need to comprehensively understand and address the multifaceted challenges encountered by manufacturers in their supply chain processes. The mosquito coil industry holds significant importance in Malaysia, primarily due to the country’s tropical climate, which is conducive to mosquito proliferation and the transmission of mosquito-borne diseases. Nowadays, there are growing complexities and disruptions experienced by the mosquito coil sector’s supply chain, prompting an in-depth investigation. The main objective is to identify the challenges and resilience strategies employed by manufacturers in this sector, providing an understanding that contributes to the broader discourse on supply chain dynamics. Employing a qualitative case study methodology, this research engages in extensive data collection through interviews, document analysis, and direct observations within the selected mosquito coil manufacturing entity. This methodology allows for an immersive exploration of the challenges faced, revealing insights into the factors influencing the supply chain dynamics. The study reveals a wide array of challenges, from obtaining raw materials to managing distribution logistics, underscoring the unique complexities specific to the sector. As a result, the research identifies and analyzes resilience strategies implemented by the mosquito coil manufacturer to mitigate challenges, such as procurement challenges faced in financial related issues, logistical complexities occurred from recent years’ worldwide pandemic, production disruptions from company’s human resource-related issues, global factors from the company’s competitors and market challenges, and technology integration from rapid technological advancements. Thus, implications of this study extend beyond the mosquito coil sector, contributing valuable knowledge to the academic community, practitioners, and policymakers involved in supply chain management. The research not only addresses the identified challenges but also serves as a foundation for enhancing the overall understanding of manufacturing supply chain dynamics, thereby fostering informed decision-making for improved industry resilience.

The application of quality management methods and tools is an important prerequisite for the success and performance increase of manufacturing enterprises. The paper deals with the application of methods and tools of quality management (MTQM) in manufacturing enterprises. The paper aims to analyze whether there is a relationship between the application of MTQM and the size of enterprises, the use of MTQM, and the performance of enterprises measured through the achieved profit. It also analyzes the impact of MTQM on the agility of manufacturing enterprises measured through the decrease in sales expressed in revenues during the pandemic period. The paper presents the results of the research which was conducted between 2020–2022. Several statistical tools such as the Chi-square goodness-of-fit test, Pearson’s chi-square test, and contingency analysis were used to evaluate the different analyses as well as the representativeness of the sample. Based on the results, it can be concluded that there are differences in the use of MTQM and the size of the enterprise as well as the performance of the enterprises. At the same time, the hypothesis that enterprises using a wider range of quality management methods and tools have a higher potential to adapt to unexpected market changes was also confirmed.