Identify a lean waste.

• A. Transportation
• B. Scheduling
• C. Forecasting
• D. Quality control

Answer: (A)

In lean thinking, anything that doesn’t add value from the customer’s perspective is a waste. Transportation is a classic waste because it involves moving materials or products between steps without changing them or adding value. That movement consumes time, increases handling and risk of damage, and takes up space, all without improving the product for the customer. Reducing unnecessary movement is a primary target in lean improvements, often through better layout, flow, and cell design.

Scheduling and forecasting are planning activities needed to coordinate work and anticipate demand, so they aren’t wastes in themselves. Quality control is essential to ensure products meet requirements; in lean, the focus is on building quality in so less inspection is needed, rather than treating quality checks as a waste.