Waste Walk - ©WASTES Methodology

  The waste walk is one of the best ways to train employees, reveal waste and discover new improvement opportunities.  Simply put, it is a time where teams or individual's head to the gemba and look for waste.  The waste walk can be a standard activity, planned event or a now and then practice.  The only skill people need to have during a waste walk is a basic understanding of the 8 forms of waste.  The ©WASTES methodology is a problem solving methodology that is used by Lean Strategies International LLC. The methodology is a simple and easy to use 6 step method for conducting a waste walk or training/kata, .  The six step process can be used with experienced employees who are seasoned in waste identification and it can be a great way to train new employees to develop a lean thinking mindset while learning to see opportunities to remove waste.  The six steps involved in the  ©WASTES Methodology are:

1. Waste Huddle
2. Assign Areas
3. Show Examples
4. TIMWOODS has DOWNTIME
5. Examine as a Team
6. Step Forward