8 Wastes

The 8 wastes are common inefficiencies in work or processes. They include overproduction (making more than needed), waiting (idle time), transport (unnecessary movement of items), extra processing (doing more work than necessary), inventory (excess goods not immediately needed), motion (excess movement by people), defects (errors requiring rework), and underutilized talent (not using people's skills fully). Recognizing these wastes helps improve efficiency, reduce costs, and streamline workflows by eliminating activities that do not add value.