Home Main TOC

THEORY OF CONSTRAINTS



    Powerpoint Files on TOC Basics

  • Intro to TOC by Tim Sullivan, Iowa State Univ (195k-right click to download)
  • Intro to TOC (Spanish) (same powerpoint by Tim Sullivan above converted to Spanish
  • Into to the TP,  Overview of the TOC Thinking Processes





Ely Goldratt, author of the book "The Goal", and originator of the Theory of Constraints training often asks this question of his students, "What are you waiting for?"

You know how to identify waste and substandard performance. You've been trained on how to list the cause of constraints. You also know how to list cures and subordinate others to help.   But, most of all, you know how good it feels to implement improvement and elevate a constraint.    So...why do you wait?

But what if we don't do anything about our constraints. Sure we can rationalize doing nothing.

This type of behavior is called constraint mis-management.

  1. Ignore-Pretend the problem doesn't exist.
  2. Rationalize-Use insulation layers (excuses such as: it's not our fault; Our problems are different; Yes, but bad things will happen; We can't it's against the policy; We won't get the support,etc,etc,etc) to justify inaction.
  3. Dominate-Keep the problem to ourselves, don't include anyone in resolving it.
  4. Stagnate-Nothing changes, constraint continues.
  5. Fail-Unsolved problems breeds failure.



Examples above provided by: Texas Die Casting

 


EXAMPLES OF EVAPORATING (CONFLICT) CLOUDS

What are clouds? Learn more about clouds.(Explanation of Evaporating Cloud and Other Thinking Processes)

Time cloud How do you focus your time? (Note: This cloud diagram includes assumptions, etc)

(Note: The clouds below are diagrams only)

Cost World vs Throughput World Providing operator tools increases throughput (TOC & Lean) Note: Cloud form not shown.

 

PPT-TOC in Medicine - This link opens into a web slide show.  Covers TOC A-Z (a lot anyway), conflict clouds and the thinking process.