You cannot remove what you cannot see. The seven wastes train your eye, so you spot non-value-adding work at the GembaJapanese for "the actual place"; going to directly observe a process rather than relying on documents or memory. Click term for full definition within minutes. Watch the short video, then work with the toolkit PDF: it explains the method, shows a worked example and gives you a blank template to fill in.
Tool video
The short tool video will appear here.
7 Wastes (TIMWOOD) in short
- Pick a process slice. One product, one order type or one shift. Keep it small.
- Go and see. Walk the process at the Gemba with this sheet in hand.
- Tag every waste. Note what you see under the matching letter. Facts, not opinions.
- Estimate the impact. Time, cost or quality effect. Rough numbers are fine.
- Pick the biggest. Choose one or two wastes to attack first, linked to your root causeThe fundamental, underlying reason a problem occurs, as distinct from its symptoms. If you remove the root cause, the problem does not come back. Click term for full definition.
Key points
- Waste adds cost but no customer value.
- TIMWOOD names seven types.
- Go to the Gemba to see it.
- Attack the biggest waste first.