What is TIMWOODS? 8 Waste of Lean and How to Reduce Them

Lean manufacturing is a methodology focused on maximizing value and minimizing waste in production processes.

The core principle is to only use the necessary resources to make a product or deliver a service.

TIMWOODS is an easy-to-remember acronym used to recall the 8 common wastes that occur in manufacturing.

It stands for the first letter of each waste – Transport, Inventory, Motion, Waiting, Overproduction, Overprocessing, Defects, and Skills. 

The TIMWOODS memory aid serves as a simple but effective way to identify areas of waste across a value stream.

By pinpointing where these 8 wastes exist, continuous improvement teams can target them for removal using lean tools and techniques.

Elimination of waste leads to improved process flow and quality, reduced lead times and costs, and better utilization of resources.

TIMWOODS and the 8 Wastes

TIMWOODS is a popular memory aid used to remember the 8 wastes of lean manufacturing.

It was created by a lean consultant named TIMWOODS as an easy way to recall the different forms of waste targeted in lean production systems.

TIMWOODS Memory Aid

• TIMWOODS stands for the first letter of each of the 8 wastes: Transport, Inventory, Motion, Waiting, Overproduction, Overprocessing, Defects, and Skills. 
• Arranging the first letters spells out TIMWOODS which creates an easy-to-remember acronym.
• When assessing production processes, manufacturers can use TIMWOODS to quickly identify areas where waste occurs. 
• The memory aid provides a simple checklist to go through when pinpointing improvement opportunities.

The 8 Wastes of Lean Manufacturing

• The 8 wastes were originally defined in the Toyota Production System to optimize workflow and eliminate non-value-adding activities. 
• Eliminating the 8 wastes is a core component of implementing lean principles focused on efficiency.
• The 8 waste categories provide a framework for classifying different forms of waste that occur in operations. 
• By targeting these areas of waste, processes can be streamlined to reduce costs and maximize profitability.
• Using the TIMWOODS memory aid makes it easier to scan operations to uncover waste sources.

The TIMWOODS acronym provides an easy way to recall the 8 main forms of waste lean manufacturing aims to reduce.

Assessing processes with TIMWOODS gives a shortcut for identifying improvement opportunities to eliminate inefficiency and non-value-adding activities.

Understanding the 8 Wastes

The 8 wastes are categories of non-value-adding activities that can be targeted for reduction or elimination to improve process efficiency. Identifying and addressing these areas of waste is a key concept in lean methodology.

The TIMWOODS acronym stands for the 8 common types of waste found in manufacturing and business processes:

Transport/Transportation

This refers to any unnecessary movement of products or materials, such as extra handling steps, excessive conveyance, or inefficient facility layouts requiring excessive transportation between process steps.

Reducing transportation waste improves workflow and reduces the risk of product damage.

Inventory

Excess inventory ties up working capital and costs money to store. It also runs the risk of damage, obsolescence, and delay. Carrying only the minimum stocks needed to operate efficiently reduces inventory waste.

Motion 

Any excess movement by employees that is not directly adding value to the product or service is waste.

This could include looking for tools, excessive walking to get materials, poor ergonomics causing strain, etc. Optimizing workflow and work cell design can reduce motion waste.

Waiting

Idle time when no work is being done is waste. This could include waiting for the next production step, equipment failures, delayed materials deliveries, etc.

Reducing machine changeover times, preventative maintenance, and working with suppliers to ensure just-in-time material delivery all reduce waiting waste.  

Overproduction

Producing more products than has been ordered by the customer overstocks inventory and causes other wastes like extra transportation and storage.

Methods like pull systems and demand-driven operations help minimize overproduction.

Overprocessing

Going beyond customer requirements or adding features that do not provide value for the customer is a waste.

This can involve over-engineering products or using unnecessarily tight tolerances or decorative finishes that customers won’t notice or be willing to pay for.

Defects

Production of defective parts that cannot be used and must be reworked or scrapped is pure waste.

Implementing solutions like poka-yoke error-proofing, improved quality control, and employee training to prevent defects reduces this waste.

Underutilized Skills

Failing to fully use the knowledge, creativity, and problem-solving skills of employees is a waste.

Engaging staff at all levels to contribute ideas for improvement and provide input into solving problems better utilizes talent.

The key to using TIMWOODS is properly identifying forms of waste and taking steps to systematically reduce or eliminate them through solutions grounded in lean methodology and continuous improvement.

Using TIMWOODS to Improve Processes

The TIMWOODS model provides a framework for identifying different types of waste in processes. Once these wastes are uncovered, some various lean tools and methodologies can be used to eliminate them.

Value Stream Mapping

Value stream mapping visually maps out the flow of materials and information in a process. It highlights all the value-added and non-value-added steps.

This enables easier identification of the 7 wastes. By pinpointing where the waste is occurring, targeted solutions can be developed.

Identifying Waste with TIMWOODS

The eight TIMWOODS wastes provide categories for classifying different issues. Observation of processes using techniques like Gemba walks reveals symptoms of waste like long lead times, excess inventory, unnecessary movement, etc.

These symptoms point to areas of overproduction, defects, excess transportation, etc. that can then be addressed.  

Implementing Lean Solutions

Once waste areas have been identified, specific lean solutions can be implemented like 5S for organization, Kanban for inventory control, Poka-yoke for defect prevention, and Standardized Work to reduce variability.

The various lean tools give a wealth of approaches for systematically eliminating waste.

Achieving Continuous Improvement with TIMWOODS

The implementation of lean solutions through activities like Kaizen events generates incremental gains over time.

As one issue is resolved, more waste becomes visible leading to a continuous cycle of improvement.

Tools like PDCA cycles help sustain the progress. With persistent application, the lean approach helps achieve substantial positive operational and financial gains over longer periods.

The TIMWOODS model jumpstarts the lean journey by making waste easy to spot.

This then leads down a path of implementing targeted countermeasures using the lean toolbox and a culture focused on sustained gains.

TIMWOODS in Action

TIMWOODS’ 8 wastes model is a popular framework used by many companies to identify and eliminate waste in their processes.

When applied properly, the TIMWOODS method can lead to significant improvements. Here are some examples of companies that have successfully used this lean tool.

Case Studies and Examples

Automotive Manufacturer

A major auto manufacturer used the TIMWOODS waste analysis to pinpoint areas of waste in their vehicle assembly process.

They identified excess inventory storage, unnecessary employee motion, and overproduction during shift changes as top targets.

By streamlining parts delivery, optimizing workflow, and adjusting production schedules, they reduced operating costs by $8 million annually.  

Healthcare Organization

A hospital system utilized TIMWOODS analysis to reduce wait times in their emergency room. They found patients waiting for test results after initial assessments.

By having a “rapid response” lab team dedicated to ER patients, they were able to diagnose conditions quickly. This decreased patient length of stay by 22% on average.

Insurance Company 

An insurance firm applied the TIMWOODS model to their claims processing department. They discovered duplicative administrative checks causing rework and delays.

By simplifying their protocols and forms, they reduced claim approval time by 30%. This significantly improved customer satisfaction scores.

Results of Waste Elimination with TIMWOODS

The successful application of TIMWOODS for waste analysis and reduction has shown the following general results across industries:

Increased productivity – Through optimized processes, companies produce more per employee hour worked. This is achieved by eliminating non-value activities.

Improved quality – Reducing defects, rework, and errors increases product/service quality. This translates to higher customer satisfaction.  

Cost savings – Less waste directly correlates to lower operational costs. Savings can be from $100,000s to $1,000,000s depending on the company.

Enhanced flexibility – Dynamic production based on actual demand creates more adaptable operations. This allows companies to better respond to changing market needs.

TIMWOODS provides a simple yet effective model for waste identification and reduction. The above examples and benefits showcase how impactful applying this lean method can be.

It truly helps organizations create processes that continuously improve.

Key Takeaways of TIMWOODS

The TIMWOODS memory aid summarizes the 8 wastes of lean manufacturing – Transportation, Inventory, Motion, Waiting, Overproduction, Overprocessing, Defects, and Skills.

Identifying and eliminating these wastes through value stream mapping and other lean tools can significantly improve process efficiency.

Importance of waste reduction: Reducing waste is a key principle of lean. Eliminating non-value-adding activities frees up time and resources to focus on what matters – creating value for the customer.

Less waste also leads to lower costs and higher quality.