A proposed integrated model of lean assessment and analytical hierarchy process for a dynamic road map of lean implementation

Lean is a well-approved strategy to enhance quality, improve productivity, and reduce cost via eliminating all non-value-added activities. The absence of a standard model for implementing lean and the strong need for a “road map” or “systematic approach” that set the priorities of enterprise’s perspectives for improvement are essential for enterprise success. A lean radar score (LRS) alone is not enough to define the perspective priorities for improvement to achieve the leanness condition. Other elements have to be considered in order to have the optimum route of implementing lean, including cost, benefits, time of completion, technological capabilities, administrative constraints, and the degree of involved risk. Based on that, an integrated model of lean assessment and analytical hierarchy process (AHP) is proposed to define the route of lean implementation based on the perspective priorities for improvement. The proposed path is dynamic and can vary according to the situation of the enterprise. Consistency test is used to ensure that the experts’ judgment in assigning weights within the AHP model does not contain contradiction, and sensitivity analysis is used to verify the robustness of decision regarding the optimum route for lean implementation.