What is considered waste in the lean concept?

In the lean concept, waste is defined as anything that does not add value from the customer’s perspective. This understanding is essential as the primary goal of lean methodology is to enhance value while minimizing waste. Activities or processes that do not contribute to a product’s value—meaning they do not meet customer needs or enhance the experience—are classified as waste.

This perspective encourages organizations to critically assess their processes, focusing on optimizing every part of the production or service delivery cycle to ensure maximum efficiency and alignment with customer expectations. By identifying and eliminating these non-value-adding activities, companies can improve their efficiency, streamline operations, and ultimately enhance customer satisfaction.

Other options could relate to aspects of waste in terms of efficiency or inventory management but do not encapsulate the core principle of lean thinking regarding value from the customer's viewpoint.