What are the 8 Wastes of Lean?

8 Wastes of Lean

→ The 8 wastes of lean are fundamental concepts in Lean Manufacturing.

→ By eliminating these wastes we can eliminate inefficiencies in production processes.

→ They are non-value-adding activities and consume resources but don't give any benefit to products and services.

→ Our customer is not willing to pay for non-value-added activities.

→ The eight lean wastes are transportation, inventory, motion, waiting, overproduction, over-processing, defects, & skillset.

Table of Contents:

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Acronym of 8 Lean Wastes:

→ The acronym of 8 lean wastes is TIMWOODS or DOWNTIME.

⏩TIMWOODS:

  1. T = Transportation
  2. I = Inventory
  3. M = Motion
  4. W = Waiting
  5. O = Overprocessing
  6. O = Overproduction
  7. D = Defects
  8. S = Skill Set

⏩DOWNTIME:

  1. D = Defects
  2. O = Overproduction
  3. W = Waiting
  4. N = Non-utilized Talent
  5. T = Transportation
  6. I = Inventory
  7. M = Motion
  8. E = Extra processing

8 Lean Manufacturing Wastes

What is Waste in Process?

→ Waste in a process refers to any activity or element that consumes resources but does not add value to the final product or service from the customer's perspective.

→ People usually think that the scrap is the waste.

→ But we also need to consider different types of activities as a waste such as time, resources, and money.

⏩Would you like to pay to the operator if:

→ They sat idle waiting for a delivery,

→ For the rework processes that had to be undertaken because the machine was incorrectly set or

→ Even for storing your product for three months before it was delivered to the store?

→ These all activities are included within the cost of your products, either inflating the price you pay or reducing the profit of the company.

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How to Get Rid of 8 Lean Wastes?

→ For Eliminating these wastes requires a systematic approach.

→ It focuses on continuous improvement, process optimization, and employee engagement.

→ We need to identify all wastes and implement any of the below methods for product or service improvement.

→ Value Stream Mapping helps to determine the actual sources of wastes and contributes towards reducing them.

⏩Different Methods for Waste Removal are:

  • Elimination
  • Replacement
  • Prevention
  • Facilitation
  • Detection
  • Mitigation


Examples of Eight Wastes in Lean Manufacturing:

→ Now we will learn in detail.

⏩Eight Wastes in Lean Manufacturing are:

  1. Transportation
  2. Inventory
  3. Motion
  4. Waiting
  5. Overproduction
  6. Over-processing
  7. Defects
  8. Skills sets

Eight Lean Manufacturing Wastes

01. Transportation:

→ Transportation is the unnecessary movement of materials or products to different locations.

→ Also we can say that the unnecessary flow of information in case of service or system.

→ Transportation does not add any value to the product.

→ It directly impacts our financial indicators and decreases the business's profitability.

→ We need more people and equipment such as trucks or forklifts to perform unnecessary movement of materials.

→ Unnecessary movement increases lead times and can result in damage or degradation of products during movement.

Transportation

⏩Reason of Transportation Waste:

  • Poor Layout and Facility Design
  • Unbalanced Production Flows
  • Inefficient Routes and Scheduling
  • Lack of Real-Time Information
  • Over-Handling
  • Inconsistent Demand and Forecasting

⏩Examples of Transportation:

→ Sending unsold products from the store to the warehouse back.

→ Ordering parts or products from distant suppliers when closer options are available.

→ Moving parts from one station to another.

→ Moving equipment from one construction site to another.


02. Inventory:

→ Inventory means holding more materials, parts, or finished products than is needed.

→ It blocks capital and increases storage costs.

→ Inventory has to be stored, it needs space, it needs packaging and it has to be transported around.

→ It has the chance of being damaged during transport and becoming obsolete.

Inventory

⏩Reason of Inventory:

  • Overproduction
  • Inaccurate Demand Forecasting
  • Large Batch Sizes
  • Lack of Flow Synchronization
  • Product Variability and Customization
  • Obsolete or Expired Inventory
  • Inefficient Storage and Warehouse Management
  • Cost Reductions through Bulk Buying
  • Unclear Production Priorities


⏩Examples of Inventory:

→ Excess raw materials than required

→ Excess Work-in-progress (WIP)

→ Finished goods stored in warehouses


03. Motion:

→ Motion is the unnecessary movement of people, machines, or items that do not add value to the final product.

→ It decreases productivity.

→ Excessive movements of parts from the machine start point to the actual work start point.

→ All of these unnecessary motions cost us time, and money and cause stress on our employees and machines.

→ Unnecessary motion causes inefficiency and can lead to worker fatigue.

Motion

⏩Reason of Motion Waste:

  • Poor Workspace Layout
  • Excessive Walking
  • Unorganized Workstations
  • Poor Process Flow
  • Manual Handling of Materials
  • Lack of Training or Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs)
  • Poor Workflow Design
  • Unnecessary Inspections or Movements
  • Long Distances Between Workstations or Departments


⏩Examples of Motion Wastes are:

→ Workers walking back and forth between workstations

→ Poorly designed workspaces

→ SOP is not defined for the process of operation

→ Software that requires multiple clicks to perform the final operation

→ Workers searching for missing tools or instruments.


04. Waiting:

→ Waiting is idle time when resources are not efficiently utilized.

→ Different resources are people, equipment, or materials.

→ It is any type of delay in information flow or material flow that leads to decreased efficiency and increases cost.

→ People and processes often must wait because the next step in the process isn’t ready.

Waiting

⏩Reason for Waiting Waste:

  • Unbalanced Production Process
  • Machine or Equipment Downtime
  • Lack of Materials or Components
  • Slow Decision-Making or Approvals
  • Waiting for Inspections or Quality Checks
  • Long Setup Times
  • Manual Data Entry or Paper-Based Processes
  • Inefficient Handovers


⏩Examples of waiting are:

→ Waiting for a delivery from a supplier

→ The truck is not available for delivery

→ The Semi-finish part is not available for assembly

→ Inspection is pending, etc.


05. Over Production:

→ Overproduction means producing more than requirements.

→ Also it includes producing too early than the required time.

→ It leads to excess inventory.

→ If we produce products in bulk based on the forecast then we have to maintain more inventory.

→ More inventory leads to charges more operating costs.

→ However, forecasts are commonly imperfect or change based on the market condition.

→ It creates a negative impact on business.

Overproduction

⏩Reasons for Overproduction are:

  • Inaccurate Demand Forecasting
  • Batch Production and Economies of Scale
  • Unbalanced Production Line
  • Long Setup and Changeover Times
  • Push Production Systems
  • Fear of Stockouts
  • Fluctuating Customer Demand
  • Incentives for High Output
  • Product Variety and Customization
  • Inefficient Inventory Management
  • Customer Pushback or Cancellations


⏩Examples of overproduction are:

→ Production is more than the customer's demand.

→ Huge meals in restaurants.

→ Hospitals with more beds than the community needs.

→ Overstaffed retail stores


06. Over Processing:

→ Overprocessing is performing more work or adding more features than the customer's requirements.

→ In other words, over-processing is additional work in the process that is not required.

→ Overprocessing is also known as extra processing.

→ Rework or repair of product is the most common example of overprocessing.

Overprocessing

⏩Different Reasons for Overprocessing are:

  • Lack of Understanding of Customer Needs
  • Inaccurate Specifications
  • Using More Advanced Technology Than Needed
  • Excessive Quality Checks
  • Lack of Process Standardization
  • Fear of Defects or Customer Complaints
  • Overuse of Automation or Technology
  • Excessive Documentation or Paperwork
  • Unnecessary Rework or Refinement
  • Lack of Training and Awareness


⏩Examples of Over Processing are:

→ If Microsoft Excel is enough for data processing we use mini-tab for data processing.

→ An X-ray is sufficient and we go for an MRI.

→ If the lathe machine is sufficient for operation and we operate with the CNC machine.

→ Complex purchasing processes with multiple approval levels.

→ Before sending mail to the manager we read it twice or thrice.


07. Defects:

→ Defects means producing faulty products or products with errors that require rework, repair, or scrapping.

→ Defects hide many other problems.

→ Quality errors that cause defects and cost us more than our expectations.

→ Every defective item requires rework or replacement.

→ We have to work on defect prevention instead of defect detection.

→ Implementation of Poka-Yoke systems and automation can help to prevent defects.

→ We also implement standard operations procedures (SOP) and training to ensure that the correct methods are used.

→ The defect is directly related to the Cost of Poor Quality.

→ We have to bear the cost of the defects and scraps and it impacts our profitability.

Defect

⏩Different Reasons for Defects are:

  • Poor Process Design
  • Inadequate Training of Workers
  • Inconsistent or Poor Material Quality
  • Machine Malfunctions or Poor Maintenance
  • Human Error
  • Inadequate Quality Control and Testing
  • Time Pressure From Customer
  • Environmental Factors
  • Incorrect or Incomplete Specifications
  • Inadequate Change Management


⏩Examples of Defects are:

→ Software with bugs is a defect that has to be rectified.

→ Misdiagnoses in healthcare that lead to unnecessary tests or treatment.

→ Products that are shipped to the wrong address are also a defect.

→ Manufactured items that don’t meet the customer’s specifications.


08. Skill-Set (non-utilized talent) Waste:

→ Skill set waste or non-utilized talent means failing to fully leverage the skills, ideas, and creativity of the workforce.

→ If we are not using our employees to their full potential, talents, or skills then it is a loss for us.

→ Skill-set or non-utilized talent is newly added in lean waste.

→ Operators are close to their processes.

→ They can easily identify problems or opportunities on the shop floor.

→ But the operators may never be asked for their input.

→ That is nonutilization of talent.

⏩Different Reasons for Skill-Set Waste:

  • Lack of Employee Involvement in Decision-Making
  • Insufficient Training and Development
  • Misalignment Between Skills and Tasks
  • Limited Career Advancement Opportunities
  • Overemphasis on Credentials or Job Titles
  • Low Employee Engagement
  • Mismanagement of Team Collaboration
  • Resistance to Employee Suggestions


⏩Examples of Skill-Set are:

→ Intentionally we are not including any competent employee in the project.

→ Not including shop floor operator in shop floor problem-solving team.

→ Not collecting any suggestions from shop floor workers for improvement.

→ Unnecessary administrative tasks.


The Benefit of Elimination of Wastes:

  • Increase the productivity of production processes
  • It creates a safer working environment for all employees
  • Reduce downtime
  • Increased Efficiency and Effectiveness
  • Cost Reduction
  • Improved Quality
  • Enhanced Productivity and Performance
  • Improved Employee Morale
  • Customer Satisfaction


Conclusion:

→ Addressing and eliminating the eight wastes identified by lean methodology.

→ Identification and elimination of eight lean wastes are essential for improving operational efficiency.

→ By working on these wastes, we can streamline processes, reduce costs, improve product and service quality, and increase customer satisfaction.

→ We can implement a culture of continuous improvement, teamwork, and problem-solving by lean methodology.

→ That ensures businesses with sustained productivity and innovation.

→ It helps to drive competitiveness and the long-term success of the business.

18 Comments

  1. I didn't know we have these many types of wastes in manufacturing. So much to learn from your post. Thanks for sharing.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Thanks for all this detail. Ver well explained it is a benefit to all looking to eliminating waste in their process..

    ReplyDelete
  3. Pictorial representation helps to understand content

    ReplyDelete
  4. Very Informative and I am learning many new things from your posts. Thank You very much for sharing. Appreciate your willingness to share.

    ReplyDelete
  5. Thank you! Very comprehensive & simple but my advise is to add more examples from manufacturing & factories since I noticed many examples such as for overprocess, related to IT & software despite of there are huge no. of examples in the manufacturing industry. My opinion only 😊

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks for your opinion we will definitely add more examples form manufacturing industry

      Delete

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