Applying Lean Principles to Road Transport for Improving Operational Efficiency and Sustainability

Abstract

 This study examines the scope and impact of applying lean principles to road transport operation. Focus
here is on the basic needs of the manufacturers who strive to reach their customers with value-added product - on time,
with right quality, and at reasonable transportation cost. How lean principles and practices can benefit transporters,
manufacturers and customers is the subject of this study. On the other hand, a review to support sustainable transport
with application of lean is also conducted. While the author is tempted to accept that the lean principles have close
relationship with sustainable transport, previous researcher suggests that transportation can turn out to be lean and
green in specific cases only with planning and effort. Therefore this study attempts to find answer to his question; is the
lean necessarily green in transportation perspective? Case study of an Indian manufacturing company helped in
formulating the research problem. The company was required to supply continuously the important components of motor
cycle of different models to an original equipment manufacturer (OEM) at a distance of about 988 kilometers in several
containers every day. Inadequate research work on lean road transportation is evident when compared with the research
carried out on lean application in other sectors including; supply chain management and logistics. This paper therefore
attempts to complement and support the limited body of knowledge on lean road transportation, reviewing two lean-based
principles and tool; Seven Transportation Extended Wastes (STEWs) and Transportation Value Stream Mapping (TVSM).