Reproducibility Standards for Lean Maturity Models: Design Guidelines for Logistics Operations

Background: Lean management has been widely adopted, particularly in logistics operations. Achieving lean is not a discrete intervention but a continuous process of maturing in the integration of processes, work systems, and organizational capabilities within a coherent management philosophy. This maturation requires structured measurement instruments for tracking maturity progression. Although numerous lean maturity models (LMMs) have been proposed, none has achieved methodological standardization or acceptance as a measurement yardstick. Methods: This study addresses this gap by evaluating 27 qualified LMMs using a reproducibility-inspired assessment framework. The paper introduces the OVRGP framework (Opportunity, Validity, Reliability, Generalizability, and Process Integrity), comprising 17 rigor-based criteria. Independent raters with substantial lean expertise evaluated all 27 models using a six-point ordinal scale, achieving a pre-consensus inter-rater reliability of ICC(2,1) = 0.836. Results: Nine critical methodological weaknesses were identified, with average scores below 2.0 for criteria requiring empirical validation, structural integrity testing, and cross-context replication. Conclusions: The study offers targeted methodological guidelines for strengthening future LMM development in logistics and supply chain contexts, and introduces the OVRGP framework as a universal reference architecture for maturity model development across industries. It provides researchers, organizations, and consulting practitioners with a design reference standard for rigorous lean maturity instruments.