Which Lean waste refers to producing earlier, faster, or more than needed?

Question

Options

• AMotion
• BOverproduction
• CDefects
• DWaiting

• A
  6% (3)
• B
  76% (38)
• C
  14% (7)
• D
  4% (2)

Explanation

Overproduction is the Lean waste defined as producing earlier, faster, or in greater quantities than customer demand requires - it's considered the most harmful waste because it generates or masks all other wastes (excess inventory, unnecessary transport, storage costs). Motion refers to unnecessary physical movement of people (e.g., walking to retrieve tools), not output volume. Defects involve errors or rework that fail to meet requirements, which is about quality, not quantity. Waiting describes idle time when people or processes are stalled waiting for the next step.

Memory tip: Think of "over-" as "too much, too soon" - Overproduction is the only waste that's about output quantity and timing, while the others focus on movement, quality, and time delays respectively.

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