What term is used for the planned and systematic approach to reducing waste in a process?

The term that refers to a planned and systematic approach to reducing waste in a process is Lean management. This methodology focuses on enhancing efficiency and eliminating non-value-added activities within an organization. Its primary goal is to streamline production and workflows by identifying and removing various forms of waste, such as excess inventory, overproduction, or unnecessary movement, while ensuring that the value to the customer is maximized.

Lean management involves continuous improvement practices and encourages employee involvement to foster an organizational culture that prioritizes efficiency and effectiveness. This approach not only reduces costs but also often leads to improved product quality and customer satisfaction, making it integral to many modern manufacturing and service industries.

While sustainability, resource allocation, and value engineering are important concepts in their own rights, they do not specifically focus on the systematic reduction of waste the way Lean management does. Sustainability encompasses a broader context of environmental consciousness alongside economic and social considerations. Resource allocation pertains to the strategic distribution of resources within an organization, and value engineering is focused on improving the value of products or services without sacrificing quality, rather than directly aiming to minimize waste in processes.