Disruptive Innovation in Chinese Manufacturing Enterprises: A Comprehensive Literature Review

Abstract

Spurred by the convergent imperatives of the digital economy and artificial intelligence, the innovation regimes of Chinese manufacturers have undergone paradigmatic shifts. This research conducted a systematic literature search that yielded 71 articles (2020–2024) in both English and Chinese. Through bibliometric clustering and thematic synthesis, the study dissect the conceptualizations, taxonomies, measurements, influencing factors and realization models of disruptive innovation in manufacturing. The article analysis reveals three archetypal pathways: low-end encroachment, high-end displacement and digital reconfigurations. By integrating previously fragmented perspectives, the study redresses the deficit in systematic pathway explication and extends the empirical frontiers of disruptive-innovation research. The proposed framework furnishes a longitudinal lens for future inquiries to trace the evolutionary trajectories of disruptive innovations and to inform manufacturers’ pursuit of high-quality, sustainable and disruptive leaps.