Theory of constraints at UniCo: analysing The Goal as a fictional case study

Abstract

As a fictional case study, Eliyahu Goldratt's novel about manufacturing, The Goal: A Process of Ongoing Improvement, presents a constraint-focused approach to production management. As a novel, the book does not emphasise the quantitative details of the plant improvements. However, a great amount of information about the plant is spread throughout the book. By collecting and analysing this data, a concrete picture of the plant's capacity and its improvements may be developed, which can greatly help the book's readers understand and evaluate the cumulative impact from the plant's ‘process of ongoing improvement’.

Keywords:

• production planning
• theory of constraints
• drum buffer rope