Techniques for the Evaluation, Reduction, and Elimination of Excess Material Flow within Industrial Facilities

The flow of material represents 2, and practically even 3, of the 7 wastes as defined by LEAN practitioners. As such, the methods for evaluating, reducing, and eliminating excess material handling are fundamental to any LEAN improvement initiative.

The 7 wastes defined by LEAN practitioners include the following:
1. Overproduction
2. Waiting (reduced by eliminating storage locations)
3. Transportation handling more than once
4. Inventory
5. Motion
6. Over-processing
7. Defective production