LEAN BITES: IMPORTANCE OF IDENTIFYING AND ELIMINATING WASTE

My insights into the importance of identifying and eliminating Process Waste. Process Waste has significant impact in servicing our customers. But too often I’ve seen, that either we don’t seem to identify waste or we’re too busy to do something about it. Let’s start with the most common definition of Lean “Maximising value for the customer whilst eliminating waste”. My 5 key insights of identifying and eliminating Process Waste: 1. The ultimate aim of Lean is to maximise value. To get the best value for your customer and waste has a direct relationship to this maximising process. you can’t get the best value for the customer while you still have waste. 2. Eliminating waste is not an input to Lean. It’s an ongoing process. So that eliminating waste is continuous. Let’s create a mindset that the ultimate goal should be to totally eliminate waste. 3. Waste elimination can’t be the role of leadership only. Everybody, that is every single person in your team or your organisation must play a part in identifying and eliminating waste. The best people to identify and remove waste are your people. Those who are frustrated and affected by waste every day. 4. Make Waste identification and elimination part of your everyday practice. Create an environment whereby team members are equipped and empowered to apply focus to their task with the intention of identification and elimination of waste. When we apply a scientific approach to solving problems, we are in fact identifying and eliminating waste. When we are undertaking kaizen or improvement projects, we could also be identifying and eliminating waste. 5. Celebrating the wins. If we truly believe waste affects our ability to maximise value for our customer, then the identification and elimination of waste should be celebrated. By eliminating waste, we get to improve the relationship with our customers. This applies equally to both external and internal customers. Acknowledge those that have made improvements. No matter how small. I’m confident if you take to time to think about, dissect and apply these, you’ll experience ongoing sustainable benefits.