Muda (Japanese: waste) describes Toyota's concept in the Toyota Production System (TPS) to improve profitability by waste reduction.
In the context of quality management, Muda is a Japanese term used to describe waste or non-value-adding activities in a business process. It is one of the seven forms of waste identified in the Toyota Production System, a manufacturing approach developed by the Toyota Motor Corporation.
The other six forms of waste, in addition to Muda, are: Mura (unevenness or inconsistency), Muri (overburden or strain), Mune (overproduction), Muda (waiting), Mushi (defects), and Byo (absence of standardization). These forms of waste are often referred to as the "seven deadly wastes" in lean manufacturing, a continuous improvement approach that aims to eliminate waste and improve efficiency.
In the context of quality management, identifying and eliminating Muda is an important part of continuous improvement and total quality management (TQM) initiatives. By reducing or eliminating waste, organizations can improve the efficiency and effectiveness of their processes, reduce costs, and improve customer satisfaction.