ABSTRACT
Common themes apply to all TOC-based process designs; the constraint is determined ahead of time (identify the system’s constraint), a process exists to provide a mechanism to exploit the constraint, a subordination process is developed, and information is provided to identify the location of the next constraint (elevate the system’s constraint). Regardless of anything else you may implement, the new business processes will include a drum-buffer-rope scheduling system to exploit and subordinate the constraint, and you will have a system implemented to monitor the status of the buffers and report statistical data on them (to identify the location of future constraints). This process will be the basis of the design. Of course, during the assessment process you will find duplication of effort, inaccurate or nonexistent communication between functions, unnecessary delays, and other problems. You might as well fix them while you are developing the new process.
