Lean" thinking was first developed with manufacturing organisations in mind. Explain FIVE examples of ways in which these waste elimination principles may be applied to improve efficiency in service organisations (such as hospitals and offices).

Service organisations contain hospitals, universities, office processes, retail organisations, consultancies and many others. It should be noted that some manufacturing organisations also often give services as part of their offering such as 'after sales service'. Care must be taken in adapting the principles of lean management from the manufacturing context but service organisations can make use of lean principles to better productivity.