When I first encountered the concept of the Eight Wastes in Lean Construction, it was a revelation. Suddenly, I could see hidden inefficiencies everywhere—wasted motion, excess inventory, unnecessary waiting. These wastes aren’t just abstract ideas but silent killers of productivity, profitability, and morale on our jobsites.
What Are The Eight Wastes in Lean Construction?
The Eight Wastes—often remembered by the acronym D.O.W.N.T.I.M.E.—are:
- Defects: Rework, mistakes, or incomplete work.
- Overproduction: Doing more than is needed or before it’s needed.
- Waiting: Idle time when people or materials are delayed.
- Non-Utilized Talent: Not leveraging the skills and insights of your team.
- Transportation: Unnecessary movement of materials or equipment.
- Inventory: Excess materials or supplies taking up space.
- Motion: Unnecessary movement by people (walking, searching, reaching).
- Extra Processing: Doing more work than the client values.
The 8 Wastes – Printable JPG Image
Download Printable PDF Version of The 8 Wastes
Why Eliminating Waste Matters
Every minute spent on waste is a minute not spent adding value. In construction, where margins are tight and schedules are unforgiving, eliminating waste isn’t just a Lean ideal, it’s a business imperative.
I’ve seen projects where simply reducing waiting time between trades shaved weeks off the schedule. Or where empowering field leaders to solve problems on the spot eliminated costly rework. The opportunities are everywhere, if you know where to look.
Spotting Waste on Your Jobsite
Here’s how I encourage teams to identify waste:
- Walk the Jobsite: Take a fresh look at daily routines. Where are people waiting? What materials are piling up? Where do mistakes happen most?
- Ask the Team: Field crews often know where the pain points are. Create a safe space for them to share ideas and frustrations.
- Visual Tools: Use boards to track recurring issues. Patterns will emerge.
- Root Cause Analysis: Don’t just fix the symptoms, dig into why the waste occurs.
Real-World Examples
- Defects: A recurring punchlist item was traced back to unclear drawings on one project. By clarifying expectations upfront, we cut rework by half.
- Waiting: Coordinating material deliveries with trade schedules reduced downtime and kept crews productive.
- Non-Utilized Talent: When we started inviting field leaders to planning sessions, we unlocked creative solutions that had been overlooked.
Strategies for Eliminating Waste
- Standardize Work: Clear processes reduce variation and mistakes.
- Empower Teams: Give those closest to the work the authority to solve problems.
- Visual Management: Make waste visible so it can’t be ignored.
- Continuous Improvement: Encourage everyone to suggest and test improvements.
The Cultural Shift
Eliminating waste isn’t a one-time event; it’s a mindset. It requires humility to admit there’s room for improvement and respect to listen to every team member’s ideas. When teams see their suggestions lead to real change, engagement and morale soar.
Conclusion
The Eight Wastes are everywhere, but so are the opportunities to eliminate them. By making waste visible, empowering teams, and fostering a culture of continuous improvement, we can deliver better projects, happier teams, and stronger businesses. Lean isn’t just about tools—it’s about people, and the relentless pursuit of value.
Want to Learn More About The Eight Wastes?
Our online Master Class features a module on The 8 Wastes. Joe Donarumo and I walk you through The 8 Wastes, a real-life example from Joe’s project, tips on how to manage waste, and a recap. Access the course here.
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Keyan Zandy, Skiles Group
Keyan is a longtime Lean enthusiast and advocate with a curiosity for how Lean processes and tools can improve teambuilding and teamwork in construction. As Skiles Group’s CEO, Keyan is responsible for driving corporate growth and guiding the company’s strategic direction while maintaining a dual focus on client service and nurturing a progressive company culture. With an emphasis on technological advancement, continuous improvement, and innovation in construction, Keyan shepherds the firm’s commitment to improving project delivery processes via Lean Construction and Lean project planning initiatives. He is the co-author of The Lean Builder: A Builder’s Guide to Applying Lean Tools in the Field, which simplifies and clearly articulates the benefits of seven primary Lean concepts, and delivers them in a highly-relatable, immediately-applicable, and field-friendly manner. Keyan also serves as Chairman for Smart Safety, an award-winning crisis management communication and emergency response tool.
