Current state and production characteristics of the Polish tanning industry: a case studyBielak, E. (Avtor) Zakrzewska, M. (Avtor) Polish tanning industryleather manufacturingmicro and small enterprisesecological transformationdeindustrializationcompetitivenessproduct qualitysurveyThis article presents the results of a study on the current state and evaluation of the Polish tanning industry, focusing on its production characteristics. The research sample included 220 companies that were contacted to gather information about their operations. Some of these companies have been suspended, liquidated, or have changed their business profiles. Approximately 30 % confirmed that they are still active in leather manufacturing, indicating that the Polish tanning industry is experiencing a process of deindustrialization. Surveys conducted in 20 companies revealed that Polish tanneries operate on national, European, and global scales. Most of them are micro or small enterprises with annual revenues of up to PLN 5 million. The primary factor defining their competitiveness is the high quality of the products and services they offer. They mainly process calfskin and cowhides sourced from Poland and abroad, primarily for the footwear sector. Polish tanneries are aware of global trends, including the industry's shift towards ecological practices, the adoption of modern technologies, and the introduction of innovations. Given the current challenges facing the Polish tanning industry, it is essential to take action to improve the health of this sector of the economy.Chair of Production Engineering (CPE), University of Maribor Faculty of Mechanical Engineering20242026-01-30 11:11:39Članek v reviji96867UDK: 658.5COBISS_ID: 266724355DOI: 10.14743/apem2024.2.504ISSN pri članku: 1854-6250slContent from this work may be used under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International Licence (CC BY 4.0). Any further distribution of this work must maintain attribution to the author(s) and the title of the work, journal citation and DOI.