Rising competitiveness in logistics has increased the need for efficient operations in distribution centers (DCs), where forklifts play a key role in material handling and cost management. This study proposes the Overall Forklift Effectiveness (OFE) model, an adaptation of the Overall Equipment Effectiveness (OEE) framework, designed to capture variables specific to forklift operations such as empty movements, battery replacement, and load adjustments. Developed through a Design Science Research (DSR) approach, the model was validated in a Brazilian DC over 10 business days using a mobile application for data collection. Results demonstrate that the OFE provided higher measurement precision by capturing operational losses overlooked by the OEE baseline. When applied in practice, the OFE enabled managers to identify that 75% of downtime was caused by unscheduled stops, allowing targeted actions to reduce idle time. Compared with the OEE baseline, the OFE model revealed a 49.5% occupancy rate and an overall efficiency of 14%, highlighting improvement opportunities that were invisible under the traditional metric. The empirical evidence shows that decisions supported by OFE can lead to more accurate resource allocation and enhanced equipment utilization, contributing to operational efficiency in logistics centers. The model offers logistics managers a structured tool to improve decision-making, while advancing the literature by extending OEE applications to material handling equipment.

@article{fabianolimanunes-2026-1716,
  title={Overall Forklift Effectiveness:   The Proposal of A Model for Measuring  Productive Efficiency in Forklifts},
  author={Fabiano Lima  Nunes and Cristine Hermann  Nodari and Jose Antonio Valle  Antunes Junior},
  journal={Operations and Supply Chain Management: An International Journal},
  year={2026},
  volume={19},
  number={1},
  pages={64--77},
  doi={10.31387/oscm0640507}
}

Fabiano Lima  Nunes, Cristine Hermann  Nodari, Jose Antonio Valle  Antunes Junior (2026). Overall Forklift Effectiveness:   The Proposal of A Model for Measuring  Productive Efficiency in Forklifts. Operations and Supply Chain Management: An International Journal, 19(1), 64-77. https://doi.org/10.31387/oscm0640507