Brands are usually more comfortable accepting waste throughout their creative process than in their other business areas. For instance, it’s easy for studios to get bogged down by processes that don’t add value, consuming precious resources that could be better spent on creativity, which further increases overhead costs.

So, the first step to optimize creative operations efficiency is to deliberately reduce waste. You can start by dedicating specific time to identifying and eliminating these inefficiencies.

It’s a good idea to implement a “waste audit” where your team can collectively identify bottlenecks, redundant steps, or outdated practices that slow down the workflow. It could involve mapping out every step of your current processes and scrutinizing each for unnecessary complexity. Once you are done identifying, streamline these processes by simplifying steps, automating repetitive tasks, or eliminating them altogether if they no longer serve a purpose.

Focusing Your Team on Waste Reduction

It will help if you encourage your team to adopt a waste-reduction mindset. Regularly schedule meetings where your team members can share insights on areas of inefficiency they’ve encountered and suggest improvements. Doing this will not only foster a culture of continuous improvement but will also empower everyone to take ownership of the studio’s efficiency.