8 Wastes of Lean

Over-
production

Un-utilized
People Defects

Motion Waste Inventory

Over-
Waiting Processing

Transport-
ation
8 Wastes of Lean
Type of waste What is it? Examples

Processing too • Information sent automatically even when not required

Waste of Over-production soon or too much than • Printing documents before they are required
required • Processing items before they are required by the next person in the process

• Rejections in sourcing applications

Errors, mistakes • Incorrect data entry
Waste of Defects and rework • Incorrect name printed on a credit card
• Surgical errors

• Files and documents awaiting to be processed

Holding inventory (material • Excess promotional material sent to the market
Waste of Inventory and information) more than • Overstocked medicines in a hospital
required • More servers than required

• Too much paperwork for a mortgage loan

Processing more than • Same data required in number of places in an application form
Waste of Over-Processing required wherein a simple • Follow-ups and costs associated with coordination
approach would have done • Too many approvals
• Multiple MIS reports

Movement of items more • Movement of files and documents from one location to another
than required resulting in
Waste of Transportation wasted efforts and energy • Excessive e-mail attachments
and adding to cost • Multiple hand-offs

• Customers waiting to be served by a contact centre

Employees and customers • Queue in a grocery store
Waste of Waiting waiting • Patients waiting for a doctor at a clinic
• System downtime

Movement of people that • Looking for data and information

Waste of Motion does not add value • Looking for surgical instruments
• Movement of people to and fro from filing, fax and Xerox machines

• Limited authority and responsibility

Waste of Un-utilized People Employees not leveraged to • Managers common
their own potential • Person put on a wrong job
Transportation

Inventory
Motion

Waiting
Over Processing

Over Production
Defects

Skills