What is the Japanese term for wastage that lean production seeks to eliminate?

• A. Muda
• B. lean production
• C. ISO
• D. quality control

Answer: (A)

Waste in lean thinking is anything that adds cost but not value to the customer. The Japanese term for this waste is muda, and lean production centers on identifying and eliminating it. Muda covers overproduction, waiting, transportation, unnecessary motion, excess inventory, over-processing, and defects. By removing muda, processes become faster and more efficient, better matching what customers actually need. The other terms refer to the approach itself (lean production), a set of international standards (ISO), or a function to ensure quality, not the specific concept of waste.