Eight Types of Waste Defined
Waste is any activity that does not add value to the product or service. The activity does not add value if the customer is not willing to pay more money for this activity. Waste can be viewed as the single hurdle that can limit a business over time, unless they are identified and systematically eliminated.
- 1: Overproduction:
- Making more than is required by the next process.
- 2: Waiting:
- Any idle time created when waiting.
- 3: Transportation:
- Any movement of materials or people around a plant that does not add value to the product or service.
- 4: Non-Value-Added processing:
- Any effort that adds no value to the product or service.
- 5: Inventory:
- Any supply in excess of a one-piece flow through the manufacturing process.
- 6: Under Utilizing People:
- The waste of not using people to the best of their unique abilities.
- 7: Defects:
- Inspection and repair of materials in inventory.
- 8: Motion:
- Any movement of people or machines that does not add value to the product or service.