Muri, Muda, and Mura are three Japanese words that represent different types of waste within "Lean Manufacturing", corresponding to Overburden, Waste, and Fluctuation in English. They are essential for understanding how to improve efficiency and productivity. To continuously generate profit, it is necessary to reduce Muri/Muda/Mura thoroughly.
"Muri" occurs when there are insufficient resources to meet performance demands, requiring further investment in resources.
Inadequate performance despite sufficient resources indicates waste, or "Muda". The only solution is to either reduce resource use with the current approach or revise the approach to achieve the required performance.
In our analysis, we've come to a unique understanding of Muri and Muda as two sides of the same coin.
To reduce "Muri" (overburden), you need to increase resources. If resources increase too much, "Muda" (waste) will increase, and if you reduce resources too much or increase performance too much in order to reduce "Muda", "Muri" will occur. This state of going back and forth between "Muri" and "Muda" is "Mura" (fluctuation).
Crucially, our focus on reducing Muri/Muda/Mura also drives us towards the "Pursuit of 0 Accidents."