Identifying waste and constraints

Success in the business – whether commercial, government, or non-profit – is not just determined by how well you can add value but also by how proficiently you can prevent value leakage. Inefficiencies, if left unchecked, can erode an organization’s competitive edge, resulting in wasted resources, missed opportunities, and diminished profitability. In this section, we will delve into the art and science of pinpointing wasteful constraints and effectively weeding them out, empowering you to champion operational excellence in your professional journey.

Viewing the spectrum of waste

Waste can manifest in obvious forms, such as a defect in a manufactured product, or more subtle ways, such as an unnecessary approval step in a process flow. To holistically address inefficiencies, you must first be adept at identifying waste in all its forms. The general categories for Lean-oriented waste are listed in Figure 3.4, for both traditional...