Shouldn't we reconsider how to introduce the seven types of waste thinking?

Why do we batch and push memorizing the seven types of Muda? Do you enjoy being pressured to memorize a list? I have a son who is obsessed with many things. He loves trains and has memorized various types. When he wants to watch YouTube, he tells me which train he wants to see. This process becomes challenging for me since I’m not a train enthusiast. How can I memorize the seven (or more) major types of bullet trains in Japan? What about the wedge plow train in Canada or Norway? The need to learn more continues as he gets introduced to Pokémon and other interests.

Cramming is not the most effective educational method. This has become clearer in today’s educational system. How can we nurture curiosity or a sense of engagement with Muda? This should focus the activity instead of merely memorizing a list of items. To some extent, giving a quiz on “What are the seven types of waste?” is the dullest form of training. It's easy to create and grade, but how much learning is really involved?

Then there are these acronyms and initialisms. They condense seven (or however many) into one word, claiming this will help memorize the types of Muda. Really? I didn’t realize that acronyms aided in memorizing a list. I thought we used acronyms and initialisms so we wouldn’t have to say everything — a shortcut technique. For example, in Japan, those outside Toyota are trained to memorize as “かざってとうふ.” It means “decorate the tofu.” Great. So what? It took me a while to recognize that the third sound of small “tu” represents over-production, the most crucial Muda.

Muda (waste) isn’t necessarily Toyota's original term; it means “useless.” Something that doesn’t warrant the effort. Something that isn’t beneficial. This concept doesn’t require training; it’s a phrase that is part of daily life. “Why am I wasting my time?” “That was a wasted effort.” Such sayings exist in many cultures, not just Japanese. Why not foster such common sense?

A crucial consideration is whether workers are allowed to acknowledge the presence of “waste” in their work. There was a Japanese boss who advised against worrying about wasting time. He pressured his colleagues to act “better” and appear “busy.” While he conducted stock trading online, the others were busy chatting on an app that isn’t traceable by the company. Those who questioned this became the odd ones out. There’s a proverb in Japan that says, “Three wise monkeys don’t see, don’t hear, and don’t say.” Similar versions of this proverb exist globally, such as “See no evil, hear no evil, speak no evil.” It’s essential to ensure that this evil does not manifest as Muda because, at times, it does. They fear that eliminating waste could jeopardize their jobs.

Instead of forcing people to memorize the seven types of waste, what can we do to tackle this issue? We should visit the shop floor and address the problems that people are facing. I visited a factory for the first time and resolved an issue. Once that problem was fixed, one man exclaimed, “This is what I was looking for!” That man was the opinion leader of the plant. The plant manager pulled him aside to discuss the Kaizen strategy, which focuses on areas of concern for the workers. He agreed, and within a few months, the plant achieved a substantial turnaround. What is essential is allowing people to experience the rapid elimination of Muda and to feel that this process enhances their work. Experiencing such success is far more crucial than merely memorizing and reciting the seven types of waste. This process should continue, addressing one Muda at a time. And I do not mean just one kind of Muda. I’m referring to the Muda that we identified. Each category of Muda is a vast topic and impossible to grasp quickly. It is beneficial to discuss Muda, and we can eliminate it efficiently.

I’m not suggesting that we never need to remember the seven types of Muda. Ohno mentioned that the seven types of Muda were derived from a Japanese proverb, Nakute-Nanakuse 【無くて七癖】. This proverb means, “even if you think you have no bad habits, you still have seven of those.” Therefore, Ohno attempted to use this reflection to convey, “Even if we think we don’t have any Muda, we still have.” Reflect on the seven types of Muda.

So, whichever method you choose to coach the seven types of waste, please at least avoid provoking an allergic reaction. There are already too many victims of this allergy.