Research on key barriers and drivers for SME to implement sustainable manufacturing - an application of Fuzzy Delphi Method

In 2020, Taiwan had 1,548,835 small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), accounting for 98.93% of all enterprises in Taiwan. SMEs can benefit greatly from emphasizing sustainability, energy security, environmental protection, and economic benefits. This study aimed to identify key barriers and drivers of SMEs’ sustainable development, thereby enhancing their understanding of sustainable development and boosting sustainability. Questionnaire survey was administered to experts, who were required to provide data based on their own experiences. The expert responses were organized and analyzed using the Fuzzy Delphi Method (FDM). This study analyzed the extent to which barriers and drivers affected the adoption of sustainable manufacturing in SMEs, thereby revealing practical means of promoting sustainable manufacturing in SMEs.