10 Wastes in Services Businesses

Plus 2 Quotes and 1 Quiz on Lean Manufacturing

1 Article for the Week: 10 Wastes in Service Businesses

When we think about Lean Concepts, we generally connect with the Manufacturing Sector only. However, Lean is applicable for the Service Businesses also.

There are many wastes present in the Services Businesses also, which when reduced will improve the Customer Satisfaction level and Profitability of the business.

Here is a list of 10 wastes you’ll find in a service business.

1. Excess Transportation - Some SKUs may not be available while shipping, so need to transport again

2. Excess Inventory - Some SKUs end up as Non-Moving items, taking up more space and locking up the money

3. Waiting for the Information

4. Waiting for Data Entry

5. Waiting for Approvals

6. Waiting for Infrastructure - Software is very slow, Internet down, Lack of space

7. Waiting for People / Vehicles - Materials are ready to be shipped, but waiting for manpower or for the vehicles

8. Redundant Data Entries - same data entered in Notebooks, Excel Sheets, ERP systems

9. Excess Packaging - to avoid Transportation and handling Damages

10. Damages / Returns Processing - Damages and Expired items create all the above wastes again, they have to be transported, needs packaging while moving, need approvals and create delays and so on.

Can you think of more wastes in the Service Business? Please share them in the Replies.

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2 Quotes on Leadership:

1. "The very essence of leadership is that you have to have vision. You can't blow an uncertain trumpet."
   -Theodore M. Hesburgh

2. "If your actions inspire others to dream more, learn more, do more and become more, you are a leader."
   -John Quincy Adams

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1 Quiz on Lean Manufacturing:

What is the name of the tool which balances the Cycle Times of the processes to match the Takt Time and improve the Flow?

1. Mistake Proofing

2. Load Levelling

3. Supermarkets and Kanban

4. Line Balancing

Give your answers by clicking “Reply” and get featured in the next newsletter.

Congratulations to Mr. Boobalakrishnan for sharing the correct answer to last week’s quiz.