What is the most effective way to eliminate waste in a process?

The most effective way to eliminate waste in a process is to focus on eliminating delays in workflow and feedback. In a streamlined process, every step should add value and contribute to the overall efficiency. Delays can lead to bottlenecks, wasting time and resources, which can hinder progress and reduce productivity.

By optimizing the flow of work and ensuring that feedback mechanisms are in place, teams can address issues promptly, adapt to changes quickly, and maintain a smooth progression of tasks. This not only helps in identifying and removing non-value-added steps but also facilitates continuous improvement.

In contrast, merely focusing on speed in task completion, ensuring role clarity, or ensuring correctness in each step, while important, does not address the systemic issues that cause delays or inefficiencies within the workflow. These elements can lead to siloed thinking, where efficiency in one area does not translate into overall process improvement. Thus, the most impactful approach centers on the continuous flow of work and timely feedback.