ABSTRACT
This chapter examines waste in all its forms: what waste looks like and the things one can do to eliminate it. Wasted time is just one segment of possible wastes. Waste should be defined as non-value-added activities or outcomes. One practice indicative of employee engagement is the application of the S's (be that 2S, 4S, 5S, or 6S) and the extent to which waste is removed from operations. This Japanese practice is a popular choice for early implementation of Kaizen because it is so visual in nature. A confectionary producer in Japan, Suzette, which sells to various department stores across Japan, has built their business model on providing high-quality sweets to customers at a reasonable price. They are able to offer such deals because they have achieved significant cost reduction in their production facilities through implementing true Kaizen.
