By definition this is the movement of materials that adds no value to the product. In most cases, transportation waste is thought of as normal in a manufacturing environment. However, it is also evident in an office environment. For example, walking around to get signatures on documents. The excessive filing also leads to the waste of transportation since those files need to be moved from time to time.
In lean, motion refers to any movement of people. The waste of motion is any motion that occurs, which doesn’t add value to the product. Common examples of this in the workplace, include retrieving tools or equipment (including reaching for them), searching for missing information, and exerting effort to lift things from the ground. Any excess motion or effort more than what is required to add value to a product is considered waste.
Over processing occurs anytime more resources are used than truly needed to satisfy customers. Unfortunately, over-processing is one of the most difficult wastes to accurately identify and assess, making it rampant in many organizations.
While inventory is often thought of as an asset, being one of the 7 wastes suggests that may be wrong-headed. In fact, as a waste, inventory can actually represent tremendous loss. Not only can inventory cost 40 percent or more of its direct cost to carry, it ties up precious cash that could better be used elsewhere in the business. A simple definition of the waste of inventory is any on-hand material other than what is needed right now to satisfy customer demand. Inventory can be categorized in various ways.
It’s important to remember that 5S applies to anyone regardless of profession or industry. If applied properly, 5S will help you in many different aspects. A 5S action guide will help you track everything you plant to improve in your workplace. From beginning to end, this will help you stay on track with your plans and actions you have taken and ensure 5S success.
The 2 key pillars of any lean enterprise are continuous improvement and respect for people. Knowing and improving your team’s skillsets help your company to overcome the many future challenges of the changing business landscape.
Shitsuke (Sustain), sometimes called self-discipline, is step 5 in the 5S process. In 5S, sustain refers to the commitment and self-discipline to maintain the previous four 5S steps – seiri (sort), seiton (sort), seiso (sweep), and seiketsu (standardize), and is key to continuous improvement success…
The fourth step in the lean 5S (6S) process is seiketsu, or standardized. Standardize is fundamentally about establishing clear, unambiguous norms for people to perform. Standards are a prerequisite for continuous improvement. As Taiichi Ohno, the father of the Toyota Production System (TPS) put it, “Where there is no standard, there can be no improvement.”
