Waiting

65 improvements

Eliminating idle time where people or product wait on a prior step, an approval, a machine, or materials.

Where it comes from

One of Ohno's seven wastes; smooth continuous flow is the Toyota Production System's direct answer to it, so interrupted flow shows up here as the waste of waiting.

What it looks like

An operator standing idle while a machine finishes its cycle.
Work queuing between steps because the line is unbalanced.
A job stalled waiting on an approval, an inspection, or a missing part.

Why it matters

Idle time between steps stretches lead time and starves the flow of value, so removing the causes of waiting lets work move steadily from step to step without stopping, queuing, or backtracking.

TheAMEConnect

Southwest Steel Buildings

Waiting

Office team members come to the morning meeting with a defined 'win for the day' so priorities are clear and progress is measurable.

American Precision Engineering

Motion Waiting

Weld cells are standardized with MIG and TIG machines plus consumables.

Audacity Micro Henry Holsters

Defects Motion Waiting

A vise and vacuum fixture let four-pin molds be quickly located and recut.

JCR Lean Ninjas

Fat American Manufacturing

Motion Transportation Waiting

A point-of-use welder at the robot station eliminates trips and interruptions for tack welds.

Audacity Micro Henry Holsters

Waiting

A table under the trim line lets scrap slide underneath instead of being rolled up and thrown away, reducing handling time and keeping the line running.

Hunter Trim & Cabinets Hunter Trim & Cabinets

Defects Waiting

Fixed the air gun trigger at the CNC refill station to restore use.

Audacity Micro Henry Holsters

Defects Overprocessing Waiting

Prototype molds are cut in high-density plastic for fast, cheap design iteration.

Hunter Trim & Cabinets Hunter Trim & Cabinets

Motion Waiting

Created a shared to-do list for Mike and Dustin to access tasks.

Northwestern Michigan College Hayes Manufacturing

Inventory Waiting

Below-minimum stock triggers a need tag that purchasing collects for replenishment.

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Office team members come to the morning meeting with a defined 'win for the day' so priorities are clear and progress is measurable.

Weld cells are standardized with MIG and TIG machines plus consumables.

A vise and vacuum fixture let four-pin molds be quickly located and recut.

A point-of-use welder at the robot station eliminates trips and interruptions for tack welds.

3D printers enable rapid iteration of fixtures and jigs with same-day feedback.

Stocked the truck toolbox with the correct 16-gauge nailer for job readiness.

A lean cave stocks tape, magnets, strips, and hooks for quick improvements.

A table under the trim line lets scrap slide underneath instead of being rolled up and thrown away, reducing handling time and keeping the line running.

Fixed the air gun trigger at the CNC refill station to restore use.

Prototype molds are cut in high-density plastic for fast, cheap design iteration.

Created a shared to-do list for Mike and Dustin to access tasks.

Below-minimum stock triggers a need tag that purchasing collects for replenishment.