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In the process of enterprise production management, there are many forms of waste, and these wastes consume a significant amount of the company’s working capital. So what are these wastes in production? Experts in lean production from Huatianmou say that such wastes increase a company’s production costs and also have an impact on the company’s profits. Below is a summary of the eight major types of waste in lean production. The eight wastes in lean production management: 1. Overprocessing or improper processing – Taking unnecessary steps to handle components; inefficient processing resulting from poorly designed tools and products, which leads to unnecessary actions and defects; waste also occurs when products meet quality standards that are higher than necessary. Sometimes, some extra “work” must be done to fill up the extra time and avoid waiting around idly. 2. Unnecessary transportation: Moving work-in-progress from one location to another within a process (even over short distances); or the need to move raw materials, components, or finished products in and out of warehouses or between different processes. 3. Time spent waiting on site: Do employees simply monitor the automated machines, or do they have to wait there for the next processing step, tools, supplies, components, etc.? Sometimes, employees have no work to do temporarily due to factors such as running out of inventory, delays in batch processing, machine downtime, or stagnation in productivity. 4. Overproduction: Producing products too early or in excessive quantities, which usually leads to other forms of waste, such as an excess of staff and storage and transportation costs resulting from large inventory levels. Inventory may refer to physical stock, or large amounts of information that are waiting in line. 5. Excess inventory: An excessive amount of raw materials, work-in-progress, or finished products leads to longer lead times, accumulation of obsolete and damaged items, higher transportation and storage costs, as well as delays. Furthermore, excessive inventory also causes other hidden problems, such as uneven production, delayed deliveries by suppliers, defective products, machine downtime, and extended preparation times. 6. Defects: Things that result in defective products or that need to be modified. Repairing or redoing, scrapping, replacing, inspecting, etc., all represent a waste of resources, time, and effort. 7 Unnecessary movements and transfers: While carrying out their tasks, employees are forced to perform some unnecessary actions that do not add any value, such as searching for, going to get, or stacking components and tools. Furthermore, walking around is also a waste. 8. Unutilized employee creativity: Failing to involve employees and listen to their opinions results in the failure to make use of their time, ideas, and skills, thereby depriving them of opportunities to improve and learn. The above are the \"eight wastes in lean production management\" as explained by experts. Lean production is a philosophy, a culture, and a practice; as long as it is practiced with dedication and consistency, it will surely yield satisfactory results in any field. Companies need to eliminate waste in order to create greater value for themselves, which also gives them a significant advantage in competition.