Guidelines for Developing Performance Indicators of Thailand’s Logistics Service Providers to Support Industry 4.0

Abstract

The purposes of this research were: (1) To study the logistics performance indicators in order to improve competitiveness of Thai logistics service providers; (2) To investigate Thai logistics service providers’ performance to meet the Industry 4.0; and (3) To establish guidelines for developing the performance indicators of Thai logistics service providers. Data were collected from publications, in-depth interviews and group discussions. Key informants were 20 senior executives of logistics service providers and government agencies. Research participants were selected by means of purposive sampling. The index of Item-Objective Congruence (IOC) was equal to 1.0. Triangulation technique and content analysis were performed for data validation. Results of the study revealed that the logistics performance indicators of Thai logistics services providers to support Industry 4.0, which involved a total of 22 indicators in four areas, including consistency of organizations and organizational strategies, planning and operational capabilities, logistics performance, and installation and utilization of information technology. With respect to the form for assessment of readiness for Industry 4.0, there were 23 indicators in six categories, including strategies and organizing, smart factory, smart operations or production, smart products, decision-making data services, and employees. Regarding an assessment of suitability of the guidelines for developing competitiveness indicators of Thai logistics service providers to support Industry 4.0, the average score rated by users was 4.85 or good to very good, meaning that the guidelines could be used to improve competitiveness of the Thai logistics service providers.