The Impact of Cloud Manufacturing on Enhancing Operational Performance: The Mediating Role of Digital Readiness (An Exploratory Study of the Opinions of a Sample of Employees at Baghdad Soft Drinks Company)

Abstract

            This study aims to explore the impact of cloud manufacturing on enhancing operational performance through digital readiness. The study focuses on examining the dimensions of cloud manufacturing, which include on-demand manufacturing services, digital resource integration, digital flexibility and scalability, and resource sharing. It also investigates the dimensions of digital readiness, namely technological readiness, human readiness, organizational readiness, and strategic readiness. In addition, the study addresses the dimensions of operational performance, including cost performance, quality performance, delivery performance, and flexibility performance. The research adopts a descriptive-analytical approach. Data were analyzed using (SPSS V.28) through the application of both descriptive and inferential statistical methods. The industrial sector was selected as the field of application, represented by Baghdad Soft Drinks Company, as an appropriate empirical setting for examining the study variables and testing their relationships. A purposive sample of (132) administrative leaders, supervisors, and employees was selected due to their direct involvement in supporting operational processes and digital transformation within the organization. The results revealed that digital readiness plays a significant mediating role in enhancing the impact of cloud manufacturing on operational performance. This role contributes to improving process efficiency and overall performance, as well as strengthening the organization’s ability to adapt to the requirements of the digital environment. These findings indicate that achieving effective operational performance does not solely depend on adopting cloud-based technologies, but also requires an integrated level of digital readiness.