What is the first step to identify waste on a selected production line according to lean principles?

What is the first step to identify waste on a selected production line according to lean principles?

• A. Perform 5S Activities to Organize the Line
• B. Create a Current State Value Stream Map
• C. Determine the Specific Material That Runs in the Line
• D. Perform a Time and Motion Study

Answer: (B)

Mapping the process to reveal waste is the first move in lean practice. A current-state Value Stream Map captures every step, material flow, and information handoff from start to finish, giving a complete view of how work actually moves and where delays, bottlenecks, or unnecessary steps appear. With this holistic picture, you can clearly see where waste hides and prioritize fixes that will have the biggest impact. Other activities like organizing the workspace, timing individual tasks, or identifying which materials run on the line are useful, but they don’t establish the full view of waste the way a current-state map does.

Mapping the process to reveal waste is the first move in lean practice. A current-state Value Stream Map captures every step, material flow, and information handoff from start to finish, giving a complete view of how work actually moves and where delays, bottlenecks, or unnecessary steps appear. With this holistic picture, you can clearly see where waste hides and prioritize fixes that will have the biggest impact. Other activities like organizing the workspace, timing individual tasks, or identifying which materials run on the line are useful, but they don’t establish the full view of waste the way a current-state map does.