The term "seven wastes" refers to a concept introduced by Toyota as a part of the Toyota Production System (TPS). It is also known as the "Seven Mudas" or simply as "Muda." The term "Muda" means waste in Japanese.
The seven wastes are seven common inefficiencies or sources of non-value-added activities that are found in production processes. These wastes hinder productivity, lead to higher costs and longer lead times, and do not contribute to the overall value delivered to customers.
The seven wastes are defined as follows:
1. Transport: Unnecessary movement of materials or products between locations, resulting in wasted time and increased risk of damage or loss.
2. Inventory: Excessive stock of materials or finished products that tie up capital, occupy valuable space, and increase the risk of obsolescence or damage.
3. Motion: Unnecessary movement of people or equipment, such as bending, reaching, or walking, that can lead to fatigue, errors, and wasted time.
4. Waiting: Idle time or delays caused by equipment breakdown, unavailability of materials, or lack of information, leading to inefficiency and decreased productivity.
5. Overproduction: Producing more goods than demanded by customers, which leads to excessive inventory, increased costs, and wastage of resources.
6. Overprocessing: Performing more operations or using more resources than required, resulting in unnecessary expenses, longer lead times, and increased complexity.
7. Defects: Errors, rework, or defects in products or processes that require additional time, resources, and customer dissatisfaction.
By identifying and reducing these seven wastes, organizations can streamline their operations, enhance productivity, improve quality, and ultimately deliver more value to customers.
