Securing Supply Chains: The Role of Cybersecurity and Fourth Industrial Revolution Technologies in Transforming Manufacturing

Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR) technologies like Internet of Things (IoT), blockchain, and artificial intelligence (AI) are being integrated into the manufacturing supply chains to boost efficiency and also improve the level of transparency. However, this shift means that cybersecurity issues are rising, which is a threat to operational resilience. In this research, the impacts of cybersecurity on supply chain management (SCM) are examined with the moderating factor of 4IR technologies. Questionnaires are administered and completed by 380 supply chain managers in manufacturing firms in Texas. Given that this research is descriptive, a quantitative research design is applied, and the Structural Equation Modelling is employed to establish the relationship between the variables. Thus, it is shown that security measures like access control (AC) and threat detection improve SCM and contribute to appropriate introduction of 4IR solutions. These technologies facilitate enhanced visibility, enhanced capability to trace events, and enhanced collaborations. The research, therefore, is a well-needed call for mapping and blending strong cybersecurity features with innovative solutions to help design reliable supply networks. Future research could consider investigating other industries within which these types of relationships could exist and the long-term consequences considered and acted upon.