Work that produces nothing.
WHAT COMMON WASTE LOOKS LIKE
Doing work nobody needs Doing work to a standard beyond what is required Redoing work because requirements were unclear Producing reports nobody reads Attending meetings with no purpose Waiting for decisions Searching for information Re-entering the same data
WHY OVER-DELIVERING COUNTS AS WASTE
Effort beyond the requirement is unrecognised and unpaid.
WHAT TO ESTABLISH
What is actually required, before starting.
WHY BEFORE
Rework from unclear requirements is the largest avoidable waste.
WHAT TO ASK
What will this be used for What level of detail is needed When is it needed
WHAT TO DO ABOUT WAITING
Establish what you are waiting for, and chase it.
WHY
Work blocked and not chased sits indefinitely.
WHAT TO DO ABOUT SEARCHING
Organise information once.
WHY
Time spent searching recurs constantly and is never counted.
WHAT TO DO ABOUT RE-ENTERING DATA
Establish whether it can be avoided.
WHY
It is common, invisible in accounting, and entirely avoidable.
WHAT TO EXAMINE
Anything you do more than a few times a week.
WHY
Small repeated inefficiencies accumulate substantially.
WHAT TO ASK OF ANY ACTIVITY
What would happen if it stopped.
WHY THAT QUESTION
It exposes work continuing through habit.
WHAT TO STOP
Anything nobody can justify.
WHAT TO CHECK AFTERWARDS
Whether anyone noticed.
