What does "Muda" refer to in Lean terminology?

In Lean terminology, "Muda" specifically refers to waste or any non-value-adding activity. The concept of Muda is critical because it's focused on identifying and eliminating activities that do not add value to the product or service from the customer's perspective. This understanding is fundamental in Lean practices, as it helps organizations streamline their processes and improve efficiency by stripping away unnecessary activities that can lead to increased costs, time, and resources.

By focusing on the elimination of Muda, organizations can enhance their productivity and ensure that every step in their processes contributes positively to the value delivered to customers. The other options describe valuable activities or measures of efficiency but do not capture the essence of Muda, which is solely concerned with reducing waste.