PMI CAPM (Certified Associate in Project Management) Examination Content OutlineQuality Management and Continuous Process ImprovementMedium
A project team is adopting a Lean approach to streamline their product development process. They decide to implement 'just-in-time' inventory management for project resources and eliminate unnecessary approval layers. This strategy primarily aims to reduce what type of waste according to Lean principles?
- AMotion
- BDefects
- COverproduction
- DWaiting
Show answer & explanationAnswer & explanation
Correct answer: D. Waiting
Implementing 'just-in-time' inventory management and eliminating unnecessary approval layers directly targets the reduction of 'waiting' waste. Just-in-time ensures materials arrive only when needed, reducing idle time for materials and processes. Reducing approval layers minimizes the time tasks spend waiting for authorization.
Why the other options are wrong
- A. Motion refers to unnecessary movement of people or equipment, which is not the primary target here.
- B. Defects refer to errors or rework, not directly addressed by just-in-time or reduced approvals.
- C. Overproduction is producing more than needed, which just-in-time helps avoid, but 'waiting' is the more direct impact of resource timing and approval layers.
Lean Waste: Waiting
Any time when people, information, equipment, or materials are not ready when needed, causing idle time in the process.
- One of the 8 types of waste (TIMWOODS).
- Includes waiting for approvals, materials, information, or previous steps.
- Just-in-time inventory and streamlined processes directly reduce this.
Memory trick: TIMWOODS: Transport, Inventory, Motion, Waiting, Overproduction, Overprocessing, Defects, Skills.