Comments on: Confused about Waste

By: Paul

Paul — Tue, 03 Jun 2008 04:19:09 +0000

I think sometimes it’s a big WASTE of time to try so desperately to separate motion and transportation wastes, for they are quite similar and are sometimes even non-separable (especially if you consider a manufacturing plant). Categorization should be smart, adaptable to every case and always have common sense.

By: One Year of Blogging! | Lean Six Sigma Academy

One Year of Blogging! | Lean Six Sigma Academy — Sun, 30 Dec 2007 20:39:51 +0000

[...] Confused about Waste [...]

By: Jon Miller

Jon Miller — Thu, 15 Mar 2007 20:59:00 +0000

It's important to understand the difference between the wastes clearly from the practical standpoint of knowing how to get rid of them and how to capture the benefits of improvement.

For example motion is typically "arms & torso" movement while adding value to something, which leads directly to labor productivity, safety and quality improvement opportunities related to wrong / missing / loose parts.

Transportation is typically "legs" movement of things over longer distances, and not adding value in the process of moving them. There can be productivity improvement if transportation is cut out totally, but typically transportation is an indirect labor activity or something that happens every so many cycle (move full box to shipping) and productivity impact is indirect. Often quality is a minor focus during transportation waste elimination.

There may be safety improvements related to moving heavy materials or forklift traffic also, but different that repetitive stress injuries related to motion waste.

Reducing transportation typically enables continuous flow and one piece flow, which leads to work in process reduction and led tie reduction. Motion waste, not so.

Getting rid of transportation is a big part of external changeover in SMED, while getting rid of motion waste is the big focus in speeding up internal changeover.

The list could go on.

By: Ron Pereira

Ron Pereira — Thu, 15 Mar 2007 00:19:00 +0000

Hi Anonymous, I would agree that overproduction is the worst of all wastes in manufacturing environments. But when dealing with service organizations (airlines, etc.) I would have to say waiting is a close second if not more damaging.

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Wed, 14 Mar 2007 22:38:00 +0000

Yes, waste is waste. I agree on your distinction between motion and transportation. The key is eliminating waste. I had been taught that overproduction is the worst form of waste, because it leads to all of the other types of waste.

By: Matt

Matt — Wed, 14 Mar 2007 09:02:00 +0000

In my past, I’ve actually had disagreements with coworkers over categorizing a waste as either motion or transport. In the middle of one argument, it hit me: who cares what category any waste is? The important thing is to recognize that something IS WASTE, and then get rid of it. That was a key experience for me.