The 8 Forms of Lean Waste, Applied to Business: Transportation

Four person business team walking through a brightly lit hallway

In manufacturing, “lean manufacturing” or simply “lean” has become a dominant management philosophy, deciding much of how the manufacturing component of the supply chain is handled to maximize efficiency of resources. Lean focuses on minimizing waste by identifying activities that add value and separating them from those that don’t, emphasizing the elimination of those that don’t.   Due to lean’s success in the manufacturing industry, managers in other industries began

Carroll Elger|
December 13, 2018
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The 8 Forms of Lean Waste, Applied to Business: Non-Utilized Talent

young businesswoman looking frustratedly at her laptop

In manufacturing, “lean manufacturing” or simply “lean” has become a dominant management philosophy, deciding much of how the manufacturing component of the supply chain is handled to maximize efficiency of resources. Lean focuses on minimizing waste by identifying activities that add value and separating them from those that don’t, emphasizing the elimination of those that don’t.

Carroll Elger|
December 6, 2018
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The 8 Forms of Lean Waste, Applied to Business: Waiting

Four businesspeople waiting to get their work done

Waiting is one of the most common forms of waste in office work. It’s also one of the easiest to overlook. In a factory, waiting is obvious. A worker stands still because a machine is busy or parts haven’t arrived. In business, waiting hides behind screens and meetings. It shows up as tasks stuck in review, approvals that take days, emails sitting unanswered, or work that can’t start because someone

Carroll Elger|
November 30, 2018
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The 8 Forms of Lean Waste, Applied to Business: Overproduction

Wasting resources with too much communication

Overproduction has long been called the “mother of all wastes” in Lean methodology, and for good reason. Whether in a factory or a modern office, producing more than is needed — sooner than it’s needed — creates ripple effects of inefficiency, hidden costs, and employee frustration. But in 2025, overproduction has taken on new forms. It’s no longer just about excess car parts sitting on a factory floor. In today’s

Carroll Elger|
November 26, 2018
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The 8 Forms of Lean Waste, Applied to Business: Defects

Engineers in factory reading instructions

In manufacturing, “lean manufacturing” or simply “lean” has become a dominant management philosophy, deciding much of how the manufacturing component of the supply chain is handled to maximize efficiency of resources. Lean focuses on minimizing waste by identifying activities that add value and separating them from those that don’t, emphasizing the elimination of those that don’t.

Carroll Elger|
November 14, 2018
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