Abstract
Abstract The burgeoning trend of globalization gives rise to the formation of the manufacturing ecosystem. This study aims to identify the critical factors of sustainable manufacturing for countries and regions across the globe finding their unique ecological niches. From the perspective of the ecological niche, we develop an evaluation system of the manufacturing niche. By using the fuzzy Decision-Making Trial and Evaluation Laboratory (DEMATEL) method, the critical factors, and its causal relationships of the manufacturing niche can be quantified and visualized. The results indicate that: (1) the evaluation system of the manufacturing niche is characterized by complexity and interactivity; (2) technical factors have the strongest impact on the evaluation system, among which R&D investment intensity and the input-output ratio of new products are key indicators; and (3) technical and policy factors are decisive for the system and actively influence economic and ecological factors. Theoretically, it is beneficial to augment the niche theory and industrial economics. Practically, it helps to create a win-win situation to facilitate governments to enact suitable industrial strategies and assist the manufacturing toward a more sustainable trajectory.
Highlights
The manufacturing has evolved into an enormous industrial ecosystem in which a growing number of areas are embedded [1, 2]
The results indicate that technical factors and policy factors are decisive for the evaluation system of the manufacturing niche
It can provide the basis for scientific decision-making by the governments and industrial organizations, contributes to build a more sustainable manufacturing ecosystem and to promote the manufacturing toward the direction of integration, dynamics, and ecology
Summary
The manufacturing has evolved into an enormous industrial ecosystem in which a growing number of areas are embedded [1, 2]. To recognize the sustainable development of manufacturing in the ecosystem, countries, and regions across the globe need to develop unique competitive advantages [3]. Jiang et al Applied Mathematics and Nonlinear Sciences 5(2020) 391–404 means the region can occupy a unique niche in the ecosystem. The ecological niche of a region is formulated by the active change and passive influence in its resource environment [4,5]. The essence of manufacturing is to meet human needs by transforming natural resources, which is directly manifested as the material exchange between human society and the natural environment [6]. The country or region which occupies a unique ecological niche can take advantage of its superior resources in the fierce competition of manufacturing and find its advantageous position in the industrial ecosystem [7]
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