Development of Lean Assessment Tools for Maturity Evaluation in Warehouse Environment

The aim of this research is to develop lean assessment tools and thecorresponding practices for maturity evaluation within a warehouse environmentoperating mainly as third party logistics (3PL). The objective is to examine theperformances of the warehouses in terms of productivity, quality, and employeesatisfaction. The research is a case study in nature, where design-thinking approachwas applied for the development of lean tools. The study was conducted via literaturereviews and multiple case study assessments of the implementation of lean practices inthird party logistics (3PL) services. Thus, both qualitative and quantitative approacheswere used. Furthermore, there was a combination of exploratory and descriptivecharacters in the study. Lean assessment tools that can be used in warehouseenvironments were developed. From the lean maturity evaluation of the warehouses,overall maturity is averagely implemented. Analyses of the warehouse productivityshow good implementation with a score of ≥80-90%. There is a direct relationshipbetween lean practices and productivity. Warehouse quality falls within the averagelevel of implementation with a score of ≥60-80%. Employee satisfaction has little or noeffect on overall maturity with the score within the average level of implementation of≥60-80%. The study developed tools for lean maturity assessment adapted to thirdparty logistics and the total supply chain warehouse environment via design thinking.Consequently, the research outcomes were two-fold, filling the gap in the developmentof comprehensive warehouse lean maturity assessment tools and providing insight intothe actual implementation of lean warehousing.