manufacturing ambidexterity and sustainable excellence: the moderated mediation of industry 4.0 readiness in egypt's food and beverage sector

This study investigates the interplay between manufacturing ambidexterity, industry 4.0 readiness, and sustainable excellence in egypt's food and beverage sector. using a survey of 308 industry professionals and structural equation modeling (sem), the study found that industry 4.0 readiness fully mediates and significantly moderates the relationship between manufacturing ambidexterity and sustainable excellence. manufacturing ambidexterity alone does not directly impact sustainable excellence, but its effect becomes significant through industry 4.0 readiness. sensitivity analysis quantified the results, showing that 43% of the variance in sustainable excellence is explained by the combined influence of ambidexterity and industry 4.0 readiness. notably, the fifth hypothesis revealed that industry 4.0 readiness significantly moderates the impact of manufacturing ambidexterity on sustainable excellence, amplifying its effects at higher readiness levels. this underscores the importance of an organization's preparedness to adopt advanced technologies to enhance the benefits of ambidextrous capabilities. this study emphasizes the importance of digital transformation and ambidextrous strategies for achieving sustainability goals. however, its scope is limited to a single sector in egypt, suggesting the need for future research in other industries and regions.