Muda

Intro

Muda is a Japanese term for waste that adds no value to the product or service. In lean and BPM, identifying muda helps remove inefficiency and improve flow.

Key points:

• Targets non‑value activities like waiting and rework.
• Improves cost, cycle time, and quality.
• Common use cases across EA/BPM/Data/App/Tech include waste audits, process redesign, and workflow simplification.
• Pitfall: cutting necessary controls by mislabeling them as waste.

Examples:

• Excess motion in manual approvals increases lead time.
• Inventory defects cause rework and delays.
• Waiting for batch jobs slows customer onboarding.

In practice:

Map the value stream and remove wastes such as waiting, transporting, overproduction, excess motion, defects, and unnecessary touches.

Related terms: Lean; Kaizen; Value Stream

FAQs:

Q: Is all non‑productive time muda?
A: Only if it adds no customer value and isn’t required for compliance or safety.

Q: How do we find muda?
A: Observe the workflow, quantify delays and rework, and involve front‑line teams.

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