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Small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) play a fundamental role in the global economy. However, SMEs usually have different characteristics from larger enterprises, e.g., essential resource restrictions, lower performance, and higher environmental impacts. This requires them to search for strategies to be more competitive and sustainable. A possible solution relies on introducing Lean-Green practices. Previous research indicated that digitalization could be an enabler of Lean. Lean can also help to achieve increased environmental performance using the Lean-Green approach. In this study, this important yet under-studied area is investigated as we consider digitalization as an enabler for implementing lean in SMEs, with a focus on Lean-Green practices. A systematic literature review is executed, following a new framework based on topic modelling for extracting the papers. The topic modelling is executed through latent dirichlet allocation (LDA) which is a machine learning technique. In methodological means, this paper represents an example of the frontier of digitalization for research activities. Regarding the investigated focus, the main findings revealed that digitalization is an enabler to Lean and to Lean-Green. As digitalization supports information sharing, it consequently fosters performance measurement systems, improvements, and value chain integration.

Small-medium enterprises (SMEs) represent 90% of business globally. Digital Transformation (DT) affects SMEs differently from larger companies because although SMEs have more flexibility and agility for adapting to new circumstances, they also have more limited resources and specialization capabilities. Thus, it is fundamental to measure SMEs’ performance considering different perspectives. Here, we describe and analyze the state-of-the-art of DT in SMEs, focusing on performance measurement. We center on whether the tools used by SMEs encompass the triple bottom line of sustainability (i.e., environmental, social, and economic aspects). To do so, in December 2021, we performed a comprehensive systematic literature review (SLR) on the Web of Science and Scopus. In addition, we also explored a novel approach for SLR: topic modeling with a machine learning technique (Latent Dirichlet Allocation). The differences and interchangeability of both methods are discussed. The findings show that sustainability is treated as a separate topic in the literature. The social and environmental aspects are the most neglected. This paper contributes to sustainable development goals (SDGs) 1, 5, 8, 9, 10, and 12. A conceptual framework and future research directions are proposed. Thus, this paper is also valuable for policymakers and SMEs switching their production paradigm toward sustainability and DT.

Resumo: A Produção mais Limpa está conquistando crescente aceitação pelas empresas devido ao potencial que esta estratégia apresenta para minimização proativa de impactos ambientais para a racionalização na utilização de insumos e diminuir a geração de resíduos e emissões. Esta prática gera benefícios ambientais e econômicos para as empresas. Desta forma, a mensuração dos benefícios auferidos pela Produção mais Limpa em empresas que adotam esta estratégia ambiental é de suma importância para a sua promoção no meio empresarial e também para a sociedade em geral. Somado a estas informações, nota-se a necessidade de maior valorização dos benefícios ambientais face aos econômicos. Neste contexto, esta pesquisa tem como objetivo identificar os benefícios gerados e as dificuldades enfrentadas para a Produção mais Limpa em quatro empresas industriais situadas no estado de São Paulo por meio de estudos de caso. Foi possível identificar significativos benefícios ambientais, principalmente no aspecto de redução da utilização de insumos de produção, ou seja, extração de recursos naturais e na deposição dos resíduos da produção. Além disso, a estratégia preventiva da Produção mais Limpa possibilitou ganhos econômicos às organizações, sustentados pelo gerenciamento racional de seus processos produtivos. Como principal dificuldade destaca-se o aspecto econômico para a implantação de projetos de Produção mais Limpa.Palavras-chave: Produção mais Limpa. Benefícios. Dificuldades. Empresas Industriais. Estado de São Paulo. Abstract:The Cleaner Production is gaining increasing acceptance by companies due the capacity that this strategy presents to proactive minimization of environmental impacts and to the rational use of inputs and reduce the generation of waste and emissions.