The Impact of Absorptive Capacity on Product Redesign through Cleaner Production Processes: An Applied Study in Al-Dora Oil Complex
Article Sidebar
THIS IS AN OPEN ACCESS ARTICLE UNDER THE CC BY LICENSE
Main Article Content
Abstract
In light of increasing environmental pressures, competitive challenges, and rapid technological advancements, industrial organizations have become increasingly dependent on leveraging their knowledge capabilities and adopting sustainable production practices to enhance product development and improve operational and environmental performance. Accordingly, this study aims to examine the impact of absorptive capacity on product redesign through the mediating role of cleaner production processes in Al-Dora Oil Complex. The study adopted a descriptive-analytical approach. Data were collected from a sample of (210) employees working in the companies affiliated with Al-Dora Oil Complex using a specially designed questionnaire. The data were analyzed using SPSS V.28 and SmartPLS 4, employing appropriate statistical techniques to test the study hypotheses. The findings revealed that the surveyed companies demonstrated satisfactory levels of absorptive capacity, cleaner production processes, and product redesign. The results also indicated significant positive effects of absorptive capacity on both cleaner production processes and product redesign. Furthermore, cleaner production processes were found to have a significant effect on product redesign. The study also confirmed the existence of a significant partial mediating role of cleaner production processes in the relationship between absorptive capacity and product redesign. The importance of these findings lies in highlighting the strategic role of integrating knowledge capabilities with sustainable production practices to support product redesign efforts. The study also provides practical implications for industrial managers regarding the importance of investing in the development of employees' absorptive capacities and adopting cleaner production practices to enhance product development, improve environmental and operational product characteristics, and strengthen long-term sustainability and competitiveness.
Downloads
Article Details
References
Bofylatos, S. (2022). Upcycling Systems Design, Developing a Methodology through Design. Sustainability, 14(2), 600. https://doi.org/10.3390/su14020600.
Briard, T., Hidalgo-Crespo, J., Aoussat, A., Véron, P., & Jean, C. (2026). A framework for the sustainability evaluation of smart and connected products concepts during early product design. Journal of Cleaner Production, 538, 147345.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2025.147345
Casamayor, J. L., Su, D., & Wu, Y. (2023). Eco-redesign of lighting products. LEUKOS, 19(3), 324–342. https://doi.org/10.1080/15502724.2022.2131437
Changalima, I. A., Ismail, I. J., & Amani, D. (2025). Driving SME performance through technological absorptive capacity and e-business innovation. Sustainable Technology and Entrepreneurship, 4(1),.
Cohen, W. M., & Levinthal, D. A. (1990). Absorptive capacity: A new perspective on learning and innovation. Administrative Science Quarterly, 35(1), 128–152.
de Melo Duarte Borges, B., et al. (2021). Development and validation of a cleaner production measurement scale. Journal of Cleaner Production,
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2021.126907
den Hollander, M. C., Bakker, C. A., & Hultink, E. J. (2017). Product design in a circular economy: Development of a typology of key concepts and terms. Journal of Industrial Ecology, 21(3), 517–525. https://doi.org/10.1111/jiec.12610
Dabić, M., Obradović Posinković, T., Vlačić, B., & Gonçalves, R. (2023). A configurational approach to new product development performance: The role of open innovation, digital transformation and absorptive capacity. Technological Forecasting and Social Change, 194, 122720. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.techfore.2023.122720
Fan, Y. V., Klemeš, J. J., Walmsley, T. G., & Bertók, B. (2020). Implementing circular economy in municipal solid waste treatment system using P-graph. Science of The Total Environment, 701, 134652. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2019.134652
Flatten, Tessa & Engelen, Andreas & Zahra, Shaker & Brettel, Malte. (2011). A Measure of Absorptive Capacity: Development and Validation.. European Management Journal. 29. 98-116. 10.1016/j.emj.2010.11.002.
Gupta, H., Kumar, A., & Wasan, P. (2021). Industry 4.0, cleaner production and circular economy: An integrative framework for evaluating ethical and sustainable business performance of manufacturing organizations. Journal of Cleaner Production, 295, 126253. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2021.126253
Hu, J., Wu, H., & Ying, S. X. (2022). Environmental regulation, market forces, and corporate environmental responsibility: Evidence from the implementation of cleaner production standards in China. Journal of Business Research, 150, 606–622. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jbusres.2022.06.049
H. Emre Yildiz, Adis Murtic, Udo Zander,(2024). Re-conceptualizing absorptive capacity: The importance of teams as a meso-level context,Technological Forecasting and Social Change,Volume 199,123039,ISSN,
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.techfore.2023.123039.
Ibrahim, M., Mahmood, R., & Som, H. M. (2024). Green absorptive capacity and environmental performance: A perspective of SMEs’ relational capability and green supply chain management practices. Environment, Development and Sustainability. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10668-023-04420-5
Juniani, A. I., Singgih, M. L., & Karningsih, P. D. (2022). Design for manufacturing, assembly, and reliability: An integrated framework for product redesign and innovation. Designs, 6(5), 88. https://doi.org/10.3390/designs6050088
Lane, P. J., Koka, B. R., & Pathak, S. (2006). The reification of absorptive capacity: A critical review and rejuvenation of the construct. Academy of Management Review, 31(4), 833–863. https://doi.org/10.5465/amr.2006.22527456
Ma, S., Ding, W., Liu, Y., Zhang, Y., Ren, S., Kong, X., & Leng, J. (2024). Industry 4.0 and cleaner production: A comprehensive review of sustainable and intelligent manufacturing for energy-intensive manufacturing industries. Journal of Cleaner Production, 467, 142879. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2024.142879
Ni, C., & Abdullah, N. L. (2025). Research on absorptive capacity in the green context: A bibliometric and visualization analysis. Cogent Business & Management, 12(1), 2435602. https://doi.org/10.1080/23311975.2024.2435602
Qian, W., Parker, L., & Zhu, J. (2023). Corporate environmental reporting in the China context: The interplay of stakeholder salience, socialist ideology and state power. The British Accounting Review, 101198. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bar.2023.101198
Rodríguez-González, R. M., Madrid-Guijarro, A., & Maldonado-Guzmán, G. (2023). Digital organizational culture and absorptive capacity as precursors to supply chain resilience and sustainable performance. Journal of Cleaner Production, 420, 138411. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2023.138411
Sha, K., Li, Y., Zhao, Z., & Zhang, N. (2022). Product redesign considering the sensitivity of customer satisfaction. AI EDAM: Artificial Intelligence for Engineering Design, Analysis and Manufacturing, 36. https://doi.org/10.1017/S089006042200021X
Tang, D., Zhu, R., Tang, J., Xu, R., & He, R. (2010). Product design knowledge management based on design structure matrix. Advanced Engineering Informatics, 24(2), 159–166. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.aei.2009.08.005
United Nations. (1992). Report of the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development. United Nations.
United Nations. (2015). Transforming our world: The 2030 agenda for sustainable development. https://sdgs.un.org/2030agenda
Wicaksono, T., Marhadi, M., Rembulan, G. D., & Nekmahmud, M. (2025). Constructing cleaner food service production design: Quality measurement and priority paradoxes in Greater Jakarta, Indonesia. Cleaner and Circular Bioeconomy, 12, 100162. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.clcb.2025.100162
Wong, F. S., & Wynn, D. C. (2023). A systematic approach for product modelling and function integration to support adaptive redesign of product variants. Research in Engineering Design, 34(2), 153–177. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00163-022-00401-3
Zahra, S. A., & George, G. (2002). Absorptive capacity: A review, reconceptualization and extension. Academy of Management Review, 27(2), 185–203.
http://www.jstor.org/stable/4134351
Zekhnini, K., Cherrafi, A., Bouhaddou, I., Chaouni Benabdellah, A., & Bag, S. (2022). A model integrating lean and green practices for viable, sustainable, and digital supply chain performance. International Journal of Production Research, 60(21), 6529–6555. https://doi.org/10.1080/00207543.2021.1994164