Project Brief
Lean Thinking and the 7 Types of Waste SHEIN (Presentation + Report)
The goal of this project is to build a written report and a presentation that explain Lean Thinking by applying the 7 Types of Waste to SHEIN, a fast-fashion e-commerce shopping application. The focus is on connecting theory to practice by clearly showing how each type of waste can appear in SHEINs operations, why it happens, and how it could be improved. The work should feel practical, business-focused, and easy to follow, rather than overly theoretical.
The written report (3000 words MAX)
should be structured into three main parts.
The first part is the theory overview. This section should start by introducing Lean Thinking in a clear and simple way. It should explain what Lean Thinking means, where it comes from, and why organizations use it. The main idea to highlight is that Lean aims to create customer value while eliminating waste. After that, the 7 Types of Waste should be explained one by one: overproduction, waiting, transportation, over-processing, inventory, motion, and defects. Each waste should be defined clearly and explained in a way that applies not only to manufacturing but also to modern service and e-commerce businesses. This section should reflect a light literature review, meaning the ideas are summarized from textbooks, academic sources, or credible business articles, focusing on common themes and key insights rather than listing sources in detail.
The second part is the case study on SHEIN. This section should begin with a brief background of the company, explaining what kind of business SHEIN is, how it operates as an online fast-fashion platform, and why Lean Thinking is relevant to its operations. The explanation should help the reader understand SHEINs environment, such as fast product cycles, high demand variability, and a global supply chain. After that, each of the 7 Types of Waste should be applied directly to SHEIN. For every type of waste, the explanation should cover what the waste means in theory, how it could realistically appear in SHEINs operations, and why it occurs. Examples can relate to the mobile app, order processing, warehousing, inventory management, logistics, quality issues, or returns. The examples should be logical and realistic, even if exact internal data is not available.
The third part focuses on analysis and recommendations. This section should assess how effectively SHEIN appears to apply Lean principles in practice, highlighting areas where operations seem efficient as well as areas where waste is likely to exist. Any gaps between Lean theory and real-world practice should be discussed, such as trade-offs between speed and quality, inventory risks, or return-related waste. The challenges SHEIN faces in reducing waste should also be explained, especially those related to fast-changing fashion trends, high product variety, and complex global logistics. Finally, practical and realistic improvement suggestions should be provided. These recommendations should be clearly linked to Lean Thinking concepts, such as improving demand forecasting, reducing excess inventory, standardizing processes, or minimizing defects and rework.
The Presentation (15 mins MAX)
The presentation should be a clear and visual summary of the report rather than a copy of the written content. It should start with a brief introduction to Lean Thinking, followed by an overview of SHEIN, then a structured explanation of the 7 Types of Waste as they apply to the company. The key problems identified and the main recommendations should be highlighted clearly, and the presentation should end with a strong and concise conclusion. Slides should focus on key points, visuals, and examples rather than long text, and the explanation should be confident and easy to understand.
The final outcome should be a well-structured report and presentation that clearly explain Lean Thinking using SHEIN as a practical case. The work should show a strong connection between theory, real-world application, identified problems, and thoughtful improvement ideas, all written in a clear and professional tone.
Attachments:
- Assignment Details (PNG files): These files include the official assignment instructions, objectives, and required structure for both the report and the presentation.
- Lean Thinking Lectures (PDF files): These are the lecture materials covering Lean Thinking concepts and the seven types of waste discussed in class.
- Additional Reference Materials (PDF/DOC files): These documents are provided only as supporting resources to help with context or examples and are optional to use within the report.
Requirements: Presentation (15 mins max) – Report (Max 3000 words)

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