Identifying and ranking key technological capabilities in supply chain sustainability using ISM approach: case of food industry in Iran

The food industry is one of the strategic industries in developing countries, such as Iran and plays a critical role in the economy, food security, and public health. The growing populations can only have food security when the food industry’s supply chain is sustainable. Therefore, due to the sustainable food supply chain’s great importance, having technological capabilities compared to others is considered a competitive advantage for the companies involved in the food industry, as it can distinguish them as pioneer actors. Although many technologies have been investigated and used in the sustainable supply chain recently, no study has focused on identifying and ranking key technological capabilities related to the food industry in sustainable supply chain management. Also, we have not found any study using the ISM-MICMAC method to identify, rank, and interdependence between key technology capabilities in supply chain sustainability. Accordingly, the present study sought to identify and rank key technological capabilities in the supply chain sustainability of food industry companies. In this study, after reviewing the relevant literature, eleven technological capabilities in supply chain sustainability were identified. Then using experts’ opinions and Interpretive Structural Modelling (ISM), interdependence among the technological capabilities ranked. Finally, dependent and independent drivers were presented using the MICMAC analysis. The ISM analysis results indicated that communication and information technology infrastructure was the most significant driver for other technological capabilities in companies’ supply chain sustainability. Moreover, logistic optimization is imperative for improving supply chain sustainability performance. Therefore, if logistic optimization is appropriately implemented, it can improve supply chain sustainability. The present study results can increase supply chain productivity and effectiveness in Iranian food industry companies.