Lean manufacturing manages the entire process to avoid waste of all kinds. As the graphic shows, it is designed to reduce unnecessary waiting time by speeding up manual processes and ensuring uptime is optimized. Defects and rework are also to be avoided by optimizing quality control, avoiding human error and improving processes. Overproduction and housing of unnecessary inventory are also to be avoided whenever possible. Select equipment including balances that meet process tolerances and optimize the weighing process for operators to reduce unnecessary energy expenditure and enhanced ergonomics. In turn, you’ll decrease downtime for both equipment and people! Finally, doing what you can to minimize transport—including bringing scales to materials rather than materials to scales—can help ensure you are making the most of that important and irretrievable asset, time.