How to spot and handle non-value-add work as a first-time manager
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8 Types of Waste in Operations: DOWNTIME

Operational waste isn’t just an inconvenience – it drags down productivity, fuels team stress, and erodes efficiency over time. Using the Lean Six Sigma DOWNTIME framework (Defects, Overproduction, Waiting, Non-Utilized Talent, Transportation, Inventory, Motion, and Extra-Processing), this guide shows first-time managers how to spot non-value-added work in daily operations and build practical habits to eliminate it.