Eliminate "Muda," Go with the "Flow"

Muda, or an activity that uses resources but creates no value, can be detrimental to a business.
In order to locate Muda, one must decide what value truly is. I never thought that value was too difficult to define, but I now understand how it is oftentimes defined improperly, or often based on old-fashioned standards. I agree, for example, that airlines who want bigger jets and layovers for customers trying to get to certain destinations, should focus their resources on having more direct flights on smaller jets.
In "Lean Thinking," one must make the value steps "flow."
I do not doubt Henry Ford’s production line strategy of efficiency by producing using sequential steps and finishing one product start to finish. However, I think that doing things in batches can also be the most efficient way for accomplishing certain tasks. For example, mailing a letter to 500 people. From personal experience, I believe that it is more efficient to departmentalized each step, rather than to complete one letter at a time. You can get into a rhythm when placing a stamp on an envelope, or folding a piece of paper 500 times. This practice allows you to do the task quicker because you do not have to think of all the steps and reach around for different items.
I do agree that tasks can be completed better with “flow,” but this flow can sometimes be in the form of departments and I don’t think that it is so counter intuitive.