Indicadores de sustentabilidad en empresas manufactureras y vinculación con instituciones generadoras de conocimiento: estudio de caso

The aim of this paper is to show the relationship between knowledge-generating institutions and mediumand large-sized manufacturing companies in the state of Morelos, Mexico. For this purpose, we analyze the correlation between the sustainability indicators implemented across the companies’ supply chains and their links with universities or research centers. To collect the data, we used a quantitative questionnaire-based approach which proved to be a valid and reliable measurement tool. The results show no changes in sustainability practices even when there are formal collaborative agreements between companies and knowledge-generating institutions. Despite the potential of the lines of knowledge generation and innovative application of these latter and their extensive infrastructure and databases, we may conclude that the statistical correlation between the level of implementation of sustainability indicators in the companies under study and their linkage with knowledge-generating institutions ranges from medium to very weak. Therefore, the necessary conditions should be created so that the relationships between companies, such institutions, and the government are strengthened in the short and medium term.