A Brief Introduction to Constraints...


Constraints take one of three forms:
  1. Resource Constraints - resources such as one particular machine (or no. of workers, or cash) which blocks the flow based on it's limited capacity with respect to executable orders in hand.
  2. Policy Constraints - policies, practices or metrics that artificially distort flow due to their poor alignment to the overall performance of the system.
  3. Permanent Constraints - limiting factors that are always present in every business such as sales skill (the ability to charge higher prices for the exact same products), R&D/new product development/innovation (the ability to create amazing new products that customers love) and management attention (the ability of managers to focus on and solve the problem at hand).
This Constraint Checker helps you identify RESOURCE CONSTRAINTS and POLICY CONSTRAINTS governing the performance of your business. Since Permanent Constraints are present at all times, there is no need to test for those... they always apply!

All questions are indicative. They can (and should) be adapted to suit your business model, industry environment, customer profile, etc.
© Copyright 2019
Theory of Constraints Institute