Waste Categories and 9 Wastes To Be Eliminated

1. Work-in-process. Stocking items not immediately needed 2. Quality. Producing defective products. 3. Facilities. Having idle machinery and breakdowns, taking too long for setup. . Expenses. !verinvesting for re"uired output. #. Indirect labor. $%cess personnel due to bad indirect labor system. &. Talent. $mploying people for 'obs that can be mechani(ed or assigned to less skilled people. ). Motion. *ot working according to the best work standards. +. Product Design. Producing products with more functions than necessary. ,. Ne -product run-up. -aking a slow start in stabili(ing the production of a new product.

Kaizen Time
In some Canon plants, the foremen are told to set aside the half-hour as Kaizen time time to do nothing but thinking improvement in the workshop. The foremen use this period to identify problems and work on Kaizen programs. a!tories are advised not to hold meetings during this "#-minute period, and foremen should not even answer the telephone then.

6 Guidelines of the Canon's Suggestion System

1. .lways show a positive response to suggestions for improvement. 2. Help workers to write easily and give them helpful suggestions about their work. 3. /ry to identify even the slightest inconvenience for the workers. 0/his re"uires very good superior1 subordinate communication.2 . -ake the target very clear. $%ample3 How many suggestions do we need this month4 5hich area 0"uality, delivery, manpower, etc.2 do we need to work on now4 #. 6se competition and games to arouse interest, such as displaying individual achievement charts. &. 7mplement accepted suggestions as soon as possible. 8ive awards before payday.