Reducing inbound logistics process cycle time using Lean Six Sigma: An action research project

• Autor(a) principal: Branco, Ana Catarina Rodrigues
• Data de Publicação: 2023
• Tipo de documento: Dissertação
• Idioma: eng
• Título da fonte: Repositório Científico de Acesso Aberto de Portugal (Repositórios Cientìficos)
• Texto Completo: http://hdl.handle.net/10071/30568
• topic: Action research; Lean Six Sigma; Third party logistics; Warehouse; Cycle time; Investigação-ação; Prestação de serviços logísticos a terceiros; Armazém; Tempo de ciclo

Developing process efficiencies resulting in shorter cycle times is one mechanism organizations often use to achieve a competitive advantage, higher profits, and/or better customer satisfaction. Given the nature of their business, minimizing process cycle time is a necessity for third party logistics providers (3PLs). With the specific aim of reducing the inbound logistics process cycle time, the present research promoted an improvement in four warehouses of a Portuguese 3PL. This was achieved through an action research project in which working side by side with the company's employees led to the creation and implementation of practical solutions. The Lean Six Sigma methodology was selected to guide the process improvement efforts. The project began by mapping the process, analyzing the measurement systems, and collecting cycle time data. By examining the initial situation measurements, the factors responsible for longer cycle times were identified. These aspects were then inspected to determine the causes of inefficiencies in the process. Initiatives on how to reduce/eliminate the causes of waste were then developed, selected, and presented. Finally, after the implementation, the analysis of the control data shows a 34% improvement in the average cycle time of the inbound logistics process and a reduction in the standard deviation of around 52%.