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. It may cost energy to remove a waste in an operation. That energy may better be spent on optimizing the process. From OSE's point of view, this is similar to Integrated Efficiency.

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