Mizusumashi is a Japanese word that means “Water Spider” or “Water Strider” – an insect that walks on water.
It is used in Lean Manufacturing to describe a person who is responsible to keep materials in stock at the point of use in production areas.
A water spider’s purpose is to handle the replenishment tasks so that the production personnel can focus on the value-added tasks that create products.
Basically, they try to move as much of the non-value added activity away from the people doing the work.
Hinkle definition: A Curious Mizusumashi is someone who is deeply curious about ways to help others be awesome at what they do!
The Curious Mizusumashi 