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Plan a concrete work block with agenda, roles, preparation, and a copyable result artifact.

Method sessionHalf day to full dayWorkshopWaste Map

Session: Waste Analysis

The plan translates the method into a concrete facilitated work block. Your inputs flow directly into the session brief and work artifact.

Derived automatically

Method session with 2-8. The plan uses the existing method logic and the runsheet.

Runsheet
Participation logic
Team round, shared work and alignment

Use the session for shared understanding. Contributions are collected visibly, assumptions are aligned, and open differences remain traceable in the artifact.

Outcome logic
Finish artifact

The session works directly toward Waste Map. After the session, the artifact should be shareable, reviewable, or reusable.

  1. 1

    Phase 1: Explain categories

    20 min

    Introduce TIMWOOD categories with concrete examples from the process. Ensure everyone understands the difference between overprocessing and overproduction. Hint: Knowledge work often needs adapted examples: waiting for approval, inventory as unfinished tickets.

    FacilitatorWaste Map
  2. 2

    Phase 2: Walk-through or observation

    2-4 h

    Observe the process at gemba or walk through it step by step. For each step, check which TIMWOOD waste occurs and with what frequency. Hint: If a step has "no waste", question it critically. Waiting is often hidden because it is considered normal.

    FacilitatorPriorisierte Verschwendung
  3. 3

    Phase 3: Quantification

    60 min

    Estimate rough damage per identified waste (time, money, defect rate). Sort top 7 by impact. Mark data gaps as follow-up. Hint: Without rough quantification, prioritization becomes mood. Even plus/minus 50% is enough for priority.

    FacilitatorImprovement Backlog
  4. 4

    Phase 4: Elimination candidates

    60 min

    Mark top 3 wastes with high impact and low effort as immediate actions. Plan complex topics as Kaizen event or standard-work adjustment. Hint: Waste forced by compliance is not an elimination candidate without talking to compliance owner.

    OwnerWaste Map
  5. 5

    Publish artifact

    10 min

    Check the artifact for completeness, define location, set version or status, and name review recipients.

    OwnerWaste Map
Usable artifact

Session Brief

For invitations, boards, tickets, PR descriptions, or workshop notes.

session-brief.md

Session Brief: Waste Analysis

Goal

Artifact: Waste Map

Working Question

Which types of waste occur in the analyzed process with which frequency and effort?

Context

Current target process; KPI state of the last 30 days; previous waste discussions or audits; known compliance obligations that force waste.

Setup

  • Format: Method session
  • Duration: Half day to full day
  • Mode: Workshop
  • Participants: One facilitator with Lean experience; two to four operators or knowledge workers from the process; one process owner with decision authority; optional external Lean coach.
  • Owner: One facilitator with Lean experience
  • Participation mode: Team round, shared work and alignment
  • Outcome logic: Finish artifact

Participation Logic

Use the session for shared understanding. Contributions are collected visibly, assumptions are aligned, and open differences remain traceable in the artifact.

Outcome Logic

The session works directly toward Waste Map. After the session, the artifact should be shareable, reviewable, or reusable.

Input

TIMWOOD table template (Transport, Inventory, Motion, Waiting, Overproduction, Overprocessing, Defects); observation sheet; stopwatch; list of all process steps; layout plan or value stream.

Preparation

Wall or board with columns per TIMWOOD category. Space per column for observations, estimated frequency, and impact. Separate observation phase and evaluation phase clearly.

Agenda

  1. Phase 1: Explain categories (20 min) Owner: Facilitator Action: Introduce TIMWOOD categories with concrete examples from the process. Ensure everyone understands the difference between overprocessing and overproduction. Hint: Knowledge work often needs adapted examples: waiting for approval, inventory as unfinished tickets. Output: Waste Map

  2. Phase 2: Walk-through or observation (2-4 h) Owner: Facilitator Action: Observe the process at gemba or walk through it step by step. For each step, check which TIMWOOD waste occurs and with what frequency. Hint: If a step has "no waste", question it critically. Waiting is often hidden because it is considered normal. Output: Priorisierte Verschwendung

  3. Phase 3: Quantification (60 min) Owner: Facilitator Action: Estimate rough damage per identified waste (time, money, defect rate). Sort top 7 by impact. Mark data gaps as follow-up. Hint: Without rough quantification, prioritization becomes mood. Even plus/minus 50% is enough for priority. Output: Improvement Backlog

  4. Phase 4: Elimination candidates (60 min) Owner: Owner Action: Mark top 3 wastes with high impact and low effort as immediate actions. Plan complex topics as Kaizen event or standard-work adjustment. Hint: Waste forced by compliance is not an elimination candidate without talking to compliance owner. Output: Waste Map

  5. Publish artifact (10 min) Owner: Owner Action: Check the artifact for completeness, define location, set version or status, and name review recipients. Output: Waste Map

Closeout

  • Update result artifact: Waste Map
  • Define location, version, and review recipients.
  • Define owner, next step, and review date.
Usable artifact

Work artifact

Pre-filled starting point based on the matching template.

work-artifact.md

Waste Map: Waste Analysis

Working Question

Which types of waste occur in the analyzed process with which frequency and effort?

Context

Current target process; KPI state of the last 30 days; previous waste discussions or audits; known compliance obligations that force waste.

Participants

  • Owner: One facilitator with Lean experience
  • Participants: One facilitator with Lean experience; two to four operators or knowledge workers from the process; one process owner with decision authority; optional external Lean coach.

Input

TIMWOOD table template (Transport, Inventory, Motion, Waiting, Overproduction, Overprocessing, Defects); observation sheet; stopwatch; list of all process steps; layout plan or value stream.

Template

Waste Analysis Canvas

Context

What is this method used for?

Core question

Which question should be answered at the end?

Input

Which data, observations, or materials are available?

Working area

  • Area 1:
  • Area 2:
  • Area 3:
  • Relationships / patterns:

Output artifacts

  • Waste Map:
  • Prioritized Waste:
  • Improvement Backlog:

Open questions

  • ...

Next step

Owner, date, and success signal.

Completion Check

  • Waste Map is complete enough for review:
  • Location:
  • Version / status:
  • Review by:
  • Next step:

Next Step

  • Review result
  • Mark open questions
  • Schedule review or decision
Template base

Waste Analysis Working Template

View templateCompact working template for Waste Analysis with context, input, output artifacts, and next step.
canvas

waste-analysis-working-template.md

Compact working template for Waste Analysis with context, input, output artifacts, and next step.

Waste Analysis Canvas

Context

What is this method used for?

Core question

Which question should be answered at the end?

Input

Which data, observations, or materials are available?

Working area

  • Area 1:
  • Area 2:
  • Area 3:
  • Relationships / patterns:

Output artifacts

  • Waste Map:
  • Prioritized Waste:
  • Improvement Backlog:

Open questions

  • ...

Next step

Owner, date, and success signal.

Ready to use when
  • Working question, owner, and target artifact are visible.
  • The result fits Waste Map.
  • Date, process name, and facilitator in header. Follow-up analyses compare to previous version. Immediate-action completion as append log.
  • Open questions are noted as follow-ups.
  • The next review or decision point is scheduled.
ProfileRunsheet