Operation vs Process

A process is a series of operations. In lean, removing waste from an operation does not necessarilyu mean that the process is improved. The focus should thus not be on individual operations, but overall processes.

http://empoweredperformance.com/Portals/0/Observations/Process%20versus%20Operations.pdf#:~:text=Operation%3A%20as%20an%20activity%20or,of%20a%20product%20or%20service.