Quantitative Risk Assessment and Safety Performance Benchmarking for Structural Integrity Management in Retail Supply Chain Infrastructure

Abstract

Structural integrity management plays a critical role in ensuring the safety, reliability, and operational continuity of retail supply chain infrastructure. This study quantitatively assessed structural integrity risks and benchmarked safety performance across retail logistics facilities by examining the relationships among structural condition, maintenance effectiveness, operational loading intensity, safety incident frequency, infrastructure downtime, and overall safety performance. A quantitative cross-sectional correlational research design was employed using data collected from 120 retail supply chain facilities, including warehouses, distribution centers, loading docks, storage rack systems, roofing structures, foundations, and support frames. Data were obtained through structured inspection checklists, maintenance records, safety incident logs, downtime reports, and operational loading assessments. Descriptive statistics, Pearson correlation analysis, multiple linear regression, independent-samples t-tests, analysis of variance, and benchmarking techniques were conducted using quantitative statistical procedures. The findings revealed that the mean structural condition score was 76.9, while the mean maintenance effectiveness score was 73.4. Safety incident frequency averaged 4.3 incidents annually, and average infrastructure downtime was 36.8 hours per year. Correlation analysis showed a strong positive relationship between structural condition and safety performance (r = 0.814, p < 0.01) and between maintenance effectiveness and safety performance (r = 0.758, p < 0.01). Multiple regression analysis demonstrated that structural condition was the strongest predictor of safety performance (β = 0.548, p < 0.001), followed by maintenance effectiveness (β = 0.361, p < 0.001), while operational loading intensity exhibited a significant negative effect (β = -0.218, p < 0.001). The regression model explained 72.1% of the variance in safety performance (R² = 0.721). Benchmarking analysis classified 31.7% of facilities as high-performing, 45.0% as moderate-performing, and 23.3% as low-performing. Storage rack systems and loading docks demonstrated the highest incident frequencies and lowest safety performance ratings among infrastructure categories. The study concluded that structural condition, maintenance quality, and operational exposure significantly influenced safety outcomes and that quantitative risk assessment provides an effective framework for evaluating infrastructure reliability and benchmarking safety performance within retail supply chain environments.