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BMS Controls Articles

Understanding the 8 Wastes of Lean

What is Lean?

Lean is a philosophy of continuous improvement and waste reduction. It was originally developed in the automotive industry and has since been adopted by many other industries. The goal of Lean is to reduce waste and increase efficiency by eliminating any non-value-adding activities from the production process.

What are the 8 Wastes of Lean?

The 8 Wastes of Lean are activities within the production process that do not add value to the customer. They are:

  • Transportation
  • Inventory
  • Motion
  • Waiting
  • Overproduction
  • Overprocessing
  • Defects
  • Underutilized People

Transportation

Transportation is the waste of moving material or product from one place to another without adding any value. This can include unnecessary delays, excessive handling, and inefficient transportation routes.

Inventory

Inventory is the waste of having excessive or unnecessary amounts of material, parts and products. This can include excess supplies, parts and products, or components and raw materials that are not needed.

Motion

Motion is the waste of unnecessary or excessive movement of people and equipment. This could include employees walking too far for materials, or machines that are not in the most efficient location.

Waiting

Waiting is the waste of time spent waiting for materials, parts, and other resources. This could include waiting for equipment to finish, waiting on materials to arrive, or waiting for processes to complete.

Overproduction

Overproduction is the waste of producing too much of something. This could include producing more than what is needed, producing out of sequence, or producing too fast.

Overprocessing

Overprocessing is the waste of doing more work than is necessary. This could include extra steps, excessive paperwork, or doing more work than is needed.

Defects

Defects are the waste of producing products or parts that are not usable or do not meet customer requirements. This could include incorrect parts, faulty products, or components that do not meet specifications.

Underutilized People

Underutilized people are the waste of not utilizing the skills and knowledge of people. This could include employees who are not challenged or not given the opportunity to contribute to the organization.

Facilities Management

Facilities management is an important component of Lean. It involves ensuring that all processes, materials, and equipment are optimized to maximize efficiency and reduce waste. By properly managing facilities, organizations can reduce the 8 Wastes of Lean and improve their operations.

Conclusion

The 8 Wastes of Lean are activities within the production process that do not add value to the customer. These wastes can be reduced by optimizing processes, materials and equipment through proper facilities management. By reducing the 8 Wastes of Lean, organizations can create a more efficient and profitable operation.