Reference no: EM133023481

Discussion you will describe the Theory of Constraints and why it is important in the LSS process. Describe how it applies to your project and how you will incorporate it into your final project.

CLASSMATE DISCUSSION: Jacobs & Chase (2014), describe it as an alternative way to think about improving processes. This because this Theory focuses on concentrating on system limitations imposed by capacity constrained resources, and for a firm to make money, it must systematically remove these limitations. In addition, it supports that improving productivity will not make money for the firm, and it will only do so when it simultaneously increases throughput, reduce inventory, and reduce operating expenses.

According to Tajelsir Omer Elnour, Abdelrahim Ali Elagab, Ishag Abdelrahman, & Magbool Hossyan Sakib, (2021), The Evolution of the Scope of the Theory of Restrictions indicated that the theory of constraints focuses on outputs and is the basis of the process of continuous improvement, and includes four levels:

- Level 1: It is the philosophy of improving performance.
- Level 2: It is the list that includes the five steps to focus on, which translate the philosophy of theory into action and give the unit a strong motivation for the process of continuous improvement by identifying and managing the constraint.
- Level 3: It is related to the thinking process (TP) which helps to identify and manage political constraints.

Level 2 in particular addresses the continuous improvement piece that pertains to LSS. This is important because as we identify areas of improvement, the weakest links, or highest areas of opportunities are the ones that should take priority. In this article, the authors stress to "Identify the weakest process in the production process chain, not to load the series of processes with more production capacity than the weakest capacity in it because it is the constraint affecting the production capacity of the series of operations as a whole, focusing improvement efforts on strengthening the weakest process in the process chain, if the improvement efforts are successful the capacity will increase the weaker operation." Tajelsir Omer Elnour, Abdelrahim Ali Elagab, Ishag Abdelrahman, & Magbool Hossyan Sakib, (2021).

In my project, for example, there were many areas of opportunity. And when we initially went through the voice of the customer, the SMEs already had a list of things to focus the improvement on. However, after making a through assessment using data and presenting it with a Pareto chart, they were surprised that the areas with the biggest opportunities were not the ones they initially thought of. This was a big aha moment for them and we were able to move forward to root cause identification and brainstorming on potential solutions.

At this point, we are still in the process of socializing the work and obtaining buy-in to the methodology and recommendations.

But it is important to mention that the Theory of Constraints makes it very easy to understand why we need to focus on the weakest areas, to improve the whole operation.