Which of the following is a DOWNTIME waste?

• A. Overproduction
• B. Quality assurance
• C. Product design
• D. Employee training

Answer: (A)

In lean thinking, Downtime wastes are the things that stop or slow the flow by tying up resources. Producing more than is needed or doing it earlier than needed is a classic example of a Downtime waste. When you overproduce, you end up with excess inventory, which ties up capital, space, and labor. That extra stock often hides other problems, but it creates real inefficiencies: you must store, move, and manage that inventory, and downstream steps may have to wait for it to be consumed. All of this constitutes wasted time and resources.

Quality assurance, product design, and employee training are activities that add value or build capability. They improve quality, functionality, and skills, so they’re not considered Downtime wastes, even though they might require time and resources.