LEAN TOOLS APPLIED IN TRANSPORT AND LOGISTICS SERVICES

Abstract

Purpose: This article is focused on the premise that applying Lean tools in transport and logistic services can contribute to reduce the costs, stocks, lead time and simultaneously contributing to major financial achievements. The objective is to create a model that allows the analysis and deployment of a Lean project in Logistic and Transport services.  Methodology: Facing the lack of information about the deployment and the results of the Lean tools in Logistic and transport services in Portugal we used as case study one example of a Portuguese company that deployed Lean tools on their services and it will show that the tools and Lean principles can be used to improve quality and efficiency by using the company existing resources, reducing causalities in the service provided and in all logistic process. Findings: Lean tools provide efficiency in the services, allowing the increasing of the existing capacity in the company, provide a continuous improvement process. Even with low investments sustaining Lean projects can produce large improvement in efficiency of the processes and in the company profits. Research Limitation: The data available about the subject in Portugal was the major limitation to the study.