Lieferkettengesetz: Herausforderungen und Chancen für produzierende Klein- und Mittelbetriebe. Wie Digitalisierung unterstützen kann.

Abstract

In an increasingly globalized economy, companies are ever more embedded in international valuecreation networks. The close interconnection of companies leads to heightened volatility and complicates transparency within global supply chains. Moreover, international trade increasingly gives rise to ecological and social impacts. With the Directive of the European Parliament and of the Council on corporate due diligence regarding sustainability, these impacts are to be reduced or avoided. Large corporations will be required to incorporate these considerations into their business activities. In contrast, small and medium-sized enterprises are exempt from the Directive’s requirements. Nevertheless, they must integrate the provisions of national legislation whenever they form part of a supply network of larger companies. Against this background, the second chapter, “European Directive on Corporate Due Diligence with Regard to Sustainability,” first addresses the terms supply chain, supply chain management, supply chain risk management, and sustainability. A subsequent section derives relevant areas for manufacturing companies from both the Directive of the European Parliament and of the Council and supporting scholarly contributions. For manufacturing companies, the integration of these aspects into risk management, the definition of measures to avoid or mitigate negative impacts, and the reporting obligations will be central concerns. Small and medium-sized enterprises often lack the necessary resources for comprehensive implementation. Digital technologies can support the integration and execution of the Directive’s requirements. However, their targeted deployment requires a more detailed examination of the specific requirements for each area and of the business processes within manufacturing companies. Accordingly, the third chapter, “Industrial manufacturing in small and medium-sized enterprises,” analyzes the general processes in manufacturing companies across procurement, logistics, and production. The analysis reveals that small and medium-sized enterprises are characterized by simple and flexible workflows, yet face structural, personnel, and financial challenges. In this context, digital technologies can make a substantial contribution to more efficient and streamlined operations. The fourth chapter, “Digitalization,” then considers potential applications from the field of Industry 4.0 in greater detail. It becomes evident that small and medium-sized enterprises predominantly rely on established technologies, while newer solutions are less frequently adopted. Nevertheless, structural and technological hurdles persist in this domain. Finally, the fifth chapter, “Challenges and opportunities in digitalization for small and medium-sized enterprises in implementing the European Directive on Corporate Due Diligence with regard to Sustainability,” presents an analysis of the findings and derives potential measures for aligning the Directive’s requirements with digital technologies. This analysis demonstrates that Industry 4.0 technologies and automation solutions can play a pivotal role in supporting small and medium-sized enterprises. As a result, they not only facilitate compliance with regulatory demands but also contribute to greater operational efficiency and strengthened competitiveness.

Date of Award	2025
Original language	German (Austria)
Supervisor	Franz Obermair (Supervisor)