The 8-Wastes

Ever wonder what they mean when some asks about waste in the things we do.  Below is a list of the 8-Wastes with descriptions.  We will use the acronym DOWNTIME.

D - Defects & Inspection
O - Over Production
W - Waiting
N - Non-Utilization of Knowledge
T - Transportation
I - Inventory (Too Much or Too Little)
M - Motion
E - Excess Processing


Descriptions

Defects & Inspection
This is work that you thought was complete but requires to be touched again due to not meeting the customer's needs.  Inspection is the same as review and this is in the flow because our internal customer don't trust that we can deliver what they want.  This leads to more Reworking of Defects, but we have to fix the process to produce a good product.

Over Production
This is the act of producing more than what the customer wants instead of providing what they need or actually paid for.  This is a fast way to lose customers as it requires more time and resources, something that is in short supply.

Waiting
It's not like you're sitting on the edge of your seat waiting for that email, right?  We just grad another flaming chainsaw out of the air.  This is based on the "thing" going through the process is waiting.  Usually for a supplier to rework their input because it failed our review and we have been fixing it ourselves for years because that's how the last guy did it..

Non-Utilization of Knowledge
Remember when  your boss sent you to Green Belt training nine months ago, but she has not assigned a project to you?  Bingo....

Transportation
This is where you have to take the product you are working on and move it somewhere.  That act of moving does not change fit, form, or function.  We are usually taking it to the boss to drop it off on their desk be reviewed, so we can rework it later.  I see a pattern developing here.

Inventory
Remember the last time you went to the office supply cabinet?  Boxes and boxes and boxes and boxes of red pens and blue highlighters (for reviewing documents), but no black pens.  Forget this, I'm going to the office supply store myself while I'm waiting for my analysis to be reviewed.

Motion
Where did I put that file on the server?  This is related to hunting and gathering.

Excess Processing
The boss has sent my analysis back with red ink dripping off of it and she told me to review it with the team first next time.  So I print off 10 copies and 2 people show up for the meeting (Over Production).  How many pages are in that report?

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