A review of manufacturing technology readiness from 1986 to 2025

The rapid evolution of manufacturing technologies has fundamentally reshaped industrial processes, compelling firms to continuously evaluate their preparedness to adopt and integrate innovations. This study investigates the concept of Manufacturing Technology Readiness (MTR), an extension of Technology Readiness Levels (TRLs), which assesses how prepared manufacturing systems absorb new technologies across technical, organizational, and environmental dimensions. Despite increasing scholarly interest, the MTR domain remains fragmented and lacks consolidated theoretical foundation. To address this gap, we conducted a comprehensive literature review covering the period 1986 to 2025, analyzing 267 articles sourced from the Scopus database. We employ a hybrid methodology combining bibliometric analysis (via VOSviewer and the Biblioshiny R-package) with the theory–context–characteristics–methodology (TCCM) framework to systematically synthesize the existing knowledge base. Our findings revealed five major research clusters and clear thematic shifts over time, with agile manufacturing, supply chain integration, and sustainability emerging as dominant themes. We also propose an organizational framework that outlines the antecedents, dimensions, and outcomes of MTR. The study concludes by offering a targeted research agenda and theoretical implications to guide future research. This review contributes to the academic literature by clarifying the intellectual structure of MTR and by assisting practitioners in aligning technological investments with strategic readiness priorities.

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