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Deadly Waste #4: Overprocessing

April 23, 2014 By Veronica

In this blog series, we will describe the Seven Deadly Wastes and their impact on workplace productivity. We will focus on examples to help paint a picture of how each waste affects the office place, in the hopes that you will be able to identify where waste is occurring, and how you might prevent it. Catching waste before it happens will support your lean 5S office efforts while boosting morale and promoting overall workplace efficiency.


The key question to ask yourself when in fear of overprocessing is: “am I doing too much work?” (Fabrizio, 6).

the deadly waste of overprocessingThough we want to do our best to please the client, sometimes the product of our efforts is just wasted energy, time and money; the client did not ask for it and does not want to pay for it. This may also ring true for employees wanting to please their superiors – the good intentions are there, but the extra work is not actually required by the boss, and is a waste of the employee’s time and of the company’s supplies.

Digital reporting will save time and resources

In his book, 5S For the Office, Tom Fabrizio gives the example of a parts manufacturer in the aerospace industry who printed weekly statistical reports for 24 different departmental managers. Though the reports were rich in detail, the managers only needed to see the summary page. Plus, the reports were also available online. In this case, we see the waste of paper and supplies, in addition to the wasted time of the employee who prepared the reports.

By identifying this waste, the company was able to reclaim the time and materials involved, in addition to reducing overprocessing itself.

The Seven Deadly Wastes – which are so egregious as to be considered deadly – are as follows:

Example of 5s lean office deadly waste

  • Correction and Rework
  • Waiting
  • Unnecessary Motion
  • Overprocessing
  • Equipment Downtime
  • Inventory and Storage
  • Inspection

Blog Posts on Each Waste Will Be Published Throughout April and May.

Note: Many of the examples used in this blog series come from Thomas A. Fabrizio and Don Tapping’s fabulous book “5S For the Office”. Please check it out if you would like more information on the subject. It is available for purchase here.


Filed Under: 5s lean office, Blog

About Veronica

Originally heralding from the Olympic Peninsula, Veronica can't remember a time when she didn't love helping people get organized. With a BA in English literature and a background in the world of editing and coaching, she enjoys writing the Organizers NW blog and sharing her secrets and tips. Veronica is also a Certified Lean Practitioner, and is always looking for new ways to create flow and increase productivity for her clients. For fun, she loves spending time with her husband, taking long walks and exploring Portland's many bookshops.

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