IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/bcp/journl/v9y2025issue-9p8424-8440.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Bibliometric Insights into Manufacturing Flexibility: Scholarly Output, Hot Topics, and Research Gap

Author

Listed:
  • Thivek Sinathamby

    (Faculty of Technology Management and Technopreneurship, Malaysia, Universiti Teknikal Malaysia Melaka, Malaysia)

  • Ganagambegai Laxamanan

    (Faculty of Technology Management and Technopreneurship, Malaysia, Universiti Teknikal Malaysia Melaka, Malaysia)

  • Fauzan Fauzan

    (Faculty of Technology Management and Technopreneurship, Malaysia, Universiti Teknikal Malaysia Melaka, Malaysia)

Abstract

This study presents a comprehensive bibliometric analysis of scholarly literature on “manufacturing flexibility†and “flexible manufacturing system†from 1985 to 2024. Based on 252 Scopus-indexed publications, the analysis conducted using VOSviewer and Bibliomagika uncovers key trends, citation structures, influential authors, and leading journals. With a total of 13,198 citations and an average of 52.37 citations per paper, the findings underscore the field’s sustained relevance, particularly in the context of Industry 4.0. Notable contributions by Gerwin (1993), Upton (1994), and Zhang et al. (2003) reflect the field’s conceptual and empirical maturity. The International Journal of Production Economics is identified as the most influential journal. Co-citation and network analyses reveal strong thematic and authorial coherence. While limited to Scopus and quantitative metrics, the study offers a foundational map of the field’s intellectual landscape. It provides valuable insights for scholars and practitioners, guiding future research directions in dynamic global manufacturing contexts.

Suggested Citation

  • Thivek Sinathamby & Ganagambegai Laxamanan & Fauzan Fauzan, 2025. "Bibliometric Insights into Manufacturing Flexibility: Scholarly Output, Hot Topics, and Research Gap," International Journal of Research and Innovation in Social Science, International Journal of Research and Innovation in Social Science (IJRISS), vol. 9(9), pages 8424-8440, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:bcp:journl:v:9:y:2025:issue-9:p:8424-8440
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.rsisinternational.org/journals/ijriss/Digital-Library/volume-9-issue-9/8424-8440.pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://rsisinternational.org/journals/ijriss/articles/bibliometric-insights-into-manufacturing-flexibility-scholarly-output-hot-topics-and-research-gap/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    More about this item

    Statistics

    Access and download statistics

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:bcp:journl:v:9:y:2025:issue-9:p:8424-8440. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    We have no bibliographic references for this item. You can help adding them by using this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Dr. Pawan Verma (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://rsisinternational.org/journals/ijriss/ .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.