Document Type : Research Paper

Authors

• Amin Askari ¹
• Mohsen Jalali Majidi ²
• Hossein Shirazi ³
• Arnoosh Shakeri ⁴

¹ Department of Industrial Management, SR.C., Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran

² Department of Industrial Management, Science and Research Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran

³ Department of Technology Management, Qom Branch, Islamic Azad University, Qom, Iran

⁴ Department of Management and Economics, Science and Research Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran

Abstract

Sustainable manufacturing systems have emerged as a strategic approach in process industries, aiming to reduce environmental impacts, optimize resource utilization, and enhance economic and social performance. Despite their potential benefits, the adoption and implementation of such systems in the petrochemical industry are confronted with multiple challenges that may impede the achievement of sustainability objectives. Therefore, a systematic and context-specific identification of these challenges is essential. This study aims to identify and contextualize the challenges associated with the adoption and implementation of sustainable manufacturing systems in the Iranian petrochemical industry using a mixed-methods research design. In the qualitative phase, a meta-synthesis approach was employed to extract common challenges reported in previous studies. In the quantitative phase, second-order confirmatory factor analysis was applied to validate and structure the identified challenges within the Iranian petrochemical context. The study population comprised managers, policymakers, industry experts, and academic scholars with relevant expertise in the petrochemical sector, from whom 225 respondents were selected using a convenience sampling method. The results of the meta-synthesis revealed 45 challenges categorized into 12 major dimensions. The confirmatory factor analysis indicated that 41 of these challenges are significant and applicable to the Iranian petrochemical industry. Moreover, human resources, financial/economic, and organizational dimensions were identified as the most critical challenge areas, with path coefficients of 0.33, 0.316, and 0.247, respectively. The findings provide valuable insights for improving strategic decision-making, resource allocation, and sustainability-oriented policies, and offer a solid foundation for future research in similar complex and technology-intensive industries.

Keywords

• Sustainable Development
• Sustainable Manufacturing Systems
• Petrochemical Industry
• Meta-synthesis Approach

Main Subjects

• Industrial management