【正文】
1About the Theory of Constraints qEliGoldratt39。sTheoryofConstraintsisbeingusedbythousandsofcorporations,andistaughtinover200colleges,universitiesandbusinessschools.qHisbookshavesoldover3millioncopiesandhavebeentranslatedinto23languages.2The Theory of Constraints q TheTheoryofConstraints(TOC)isanoverallphilosophydevelopedbyDr.EliyahuM.Goldratt,usuallyappliedtorunningandimprovingananization.q TOCconsistsofProblemSolvingandManagement/DecisionMakingToolscalledtheThinkingProcesses(TP).q TOCisappliedtologicallyandsystematicallyanswerthesethreequestionsessentialtoanyprocessofongoingimprovement:v改進(jìn)什么? What to change?v改成什么樣子? What to change to?v如何使改進(jìn)得以實(shí)現(xiàn)? How to cause the change?3The Theory of Constraints q MorespecificusesoftheThinkingProcessescanbeusedtosignificantlyenhancevitalmanagementskills,suchas:v winwinconflictresolutionv effectivemunicationv teambuildingskillsv delegationv empowerment4The Theory of Constraints qFamousforspectacularresults,theuseofTOChasresultedinProvenSolutionscreatedbyapplyingtheThinkingProcesses(TP)inspecificfunctionalareassuchasSales,Marketing,Logistics,Finance,Accounting,EngineeringandProjectManagement.qManyofthesesolutionsarediscussedindetailinthebooks:The Goal, The Race, It39。s Not LuckandCritical Chain.5The Theory of Constraints qTOCrecognizesthattheoutputofanysystemthatconsistsofmultiplestepswheretheoutputofonestepdependsontheoutputofoneormorepreviousstepswillbelimited(orconstrained)bytheleastproductivesteps.qInotherwords,asparaphrasedinThe Goal,thestrengthofanychainisdependantuponitsweakestlink.6The Theory of Constraints q Wheremanufacturingisconcerned,TOCpostulatesthatthegoalistomake(more)money.Itdescribesthreeavenuestothisgoal:v IncreaseThroughputv ReduceInventoryv ReduceOperatingExpenseq AsDr.Goldrattnotes,theopportunitiestomakemoremoneythroughreductionsininventoryandoperatingexpensearelimitedbyzero.q TheopportunitiestomakemoremoneybyincreasingThroughput,ontheotherhand,areunlimited.7The Theory of Constraints q Wheremanufacturingisconcerned,TOCpostulatesthatthegoalistomake(more)money.Itdescribesthreeavenuestothisgoal:v IncreaseThroughputv ReduceInventoryv ReduceOperatingExpenseq AsDr.Goldrattnotes,theopportunitiestomakemoremoneythroughreductionsi