Solutions:

• Map the value stream to identify waiting points.
• Determine the root causes of bottlenecks and remove.
• Establish a pull based environment where activities are driven in accordance with demand.
• Takt time.
• Use standard work.

Question:  What types of waiting do you see on a daily basis?

**Place answers in the comments section below.**

  The waste hierarchy is a common tool used in green and environmentally focused organizations.  The tool helps to rank the different options that you could select when managing waste.  As you can see the highest priority is shown at the top and descends as shown below:

1. Prevention
2. Reuse
3. Recycle
4. Recover
5. Disposal

  In the comments section below list one way you could prevent waste, one way you can reuse some items, one way you could begin recycling and one way you can recover some materials, energy or value from waste.

    Work sequence is the order in which work is performed.  The work sequence is generally made up of the best possible method of performing a task or producing a product.  Work sequences should be established with the absolute minimum amount of waste in the sequence.

  A water spider/runner/mizusmashi is someone who transports materials quickly and efficiently from work area to work area.  Typically the water spider will collect, deliver and log the flow of materials as they move from area to area.  This person will also attempt to move as much non-value added work away from the primary member.

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  Waste can be defined as any activity that does not add value to the product or service in the eyes of your customer.  This often includes activities that do not transform the product or service in any way, shape or form and all products or activities that are not performed correctly the first time through.

For more information see:  Muda, Non-value added.

Topics for discussion:

1. What forms of waste are most prevalent in your work environment?
   
2. Why has it taken so long for many organizations to understand the value of a waste elimination focus?
   
3. If you asked a customer, what one form of waste would you like me to focus on? How would they answer? 
   

  Work in progress or process refers to one form of inventory.  WIP as it is often referred to as, is the work that is in process or production at a stage that falls between raw material and finished product.  Continuous Improvement strategies like lean and six sigma help to reduce inventory and work in progress.

  Weibull distribution is a flexible continuous probability distribution.  The graph is used with reliability in various engineering applications.  Parameters are often tailored or molded to fit product characteristics throughout a product life cycle.  A very good read for more information on the Weibull analysis is Weibull Analysis by Bryan Dodson.