A guide to the 7 Wastes

This is a Lean tool that helps you identify waste to remove from your processes. Reducing waste allows your team to spend more time on meeting customer requirements. The seven types of waste are outlined below.

#1 Overproduction: Producing too much unnecessarily, or faster than the next stage of the process can cope with.

#2 Waiting: Time waiting for work whilst other people are busy.

#3 Failures and rework: Any time spent producing work that is rejected and all time spent on correction.

#4 Motion: Time spent physically moving to perform roles, such as moving from desk to the printer.

#5 Excess processing: Extra steps completed delivering a service that does not add value to the customer. E.g. checking, sign-off stages, unnecessary document signatures, recording info in multiple locations.

#6 Inventory: Work that is in progress but is not actively being worked on. E.g. Customers in a queue.

#7 Transportation: Taking goods from one location to another for processing. E.g. getting a physical signature.