Mura is traditional general Japanese term for unevenness, irregularity or inconsistency in physical matter or human spiritual condition. It is also a key concept in performance improvement systems such as the Toyota Production System

Toyota Production System

The Toyota Production System is an integrated socio-technical system, developed by Toyota, that comprises its management philosophy and practices. The TPS organizes manufacturing and logistics for the automobile manufacturer, including interaction with suppliers and customers...

. Mura is one of the three types of waste (Muda, Mura, Muri

Muri (Japanese term)

Muri is a Japanese term for overburden, unreasonableness or absurdity, which has become popularized in the West by its use as a key concept in the Toyota Production System.-Avoidance of muri in Toyota manufacturing:...

). Waste reduction is an effective way to increase profitability. Toyota merely picked up these three words with prefix mu-, which every Japanese know, as product improvement program or campaign.

Mura, in terms of business/process improvement, is avoided through Just In Time systems which are based on keeping little or no inventory, rather supplying the production process with the right part, at the right time, in the right amount, and first-in, first out component flow.