Lean Six Sigma For Dummies, 4th Edition

Chapter 10

Identifying Non-Value-Adding Steps and Waste

IN THIS CHAPTER

Determining whether the steps in your process add value

Identifying waste

Minimizing negative environmental impacts

When Taiichi Ohno described the Toyota Production System, he talked about reducing the timeline of processes by “removing the non-value-adding wastes.” Removing waste is clearly beneficial in lots of ways, but how do we know what’s meant by “value-adding,” and how do we spot a waste?

This chapter focuses on waste. We describe how to tell whether a process step adds value and introduce the “eight wastes” popularized by Toyota’s Taiichi Ohno. (These are now often referred to as the TIM WOODS wastes, and we'll explain that acronym later in the chapter.) Addressing waste will not only help to reduce the timeline of processes, but it will reduce costs, remove frustrations, and improve service to the customer. Let’s not waste this opportunity!

Defining Value-Adding

Lean Six Sigma focuses on providing value for the customer, so knowing what value actually means in your organization is crucial. Chapter 4 covers the CTQs, those critical to quality customer requirements that your organization needs to ...