Waste is defined as anything that consumes material or labor and that does not add value to the final end customer. Waste is considered non-value adding activity that takes time, resources or space, but do not add to the value of the product itself. Meanwhile, value adding activity is an activity that transforms or shapes raw material or information to meet customer requirements.

 

7 Wastes (Muda) in the Value Stream:

  1. Defects
  2. Over-production
  3. Over-processing
  4. Motion
  5. Transportation
  6. Waiting
  7. Inventories

 

Lean Masters uses a key Toyota Principle, “learning to see” to help clients identify activities that are value-adding and those that are non-value adding activities or waste. Through this process we are able to see the opportunities in the organization in which we can improve and impact the bottom line. We just don’t identify the opportunities but rather we use it to impact the business by reducing cost.