the goal

• Anything that limits the performance of a system relative to its goal
• constraints can be physical or policy

• the contribution of a link a link is strongly dependent upon the performance of the other links
• the chain is oonly as strong as its weakest link

A systems based directed process of ongoing improvement

an integrative or holistic approach to identifying organization problems and the development and implementation of possible solutions

• -system thinking is better for solving problems
• -there is no such thing as optimal solitons
• -Assume all things are not of equal importance

Those things which we commonly work on that provide limited or no benefit relative to our goal

• 1. define the goal
• 2. determine the system measurements
• 3. Five steps of focusing

What the system strives to achieve. The primary focus and objective of the system

That which must be satisfied prior to achieving the goal (ex. prerequisite)

throughput- the rat at which the system generates money through sales

• Inventory-all the money the system invests in purchasing things the system intends to sell
• Operating Expense- all the money the system spends turning inventory into throughput

• 1. Identify the systems constraints
• 2.Decided how to exploit the systems constraints
• 3.Subordinate everything else to the above decision
• 4.Elevate the systems constaints
• 5.If in the previous steps a constraint has been broken, go back to step 1
• warning dont let inertia to become a constraint

• Drum-the most constraining element in a process which should be used to pace the entire system(identify)
• Buffer- a protective cushion in the form of inventory or timing to protect the planned flow against statistical fluctuation  (Exploit)
• Rope-backwards scheduling( offset lead time) of material released into the system on the basis of the constraint usage (Subordinate)

activation is not equal to utilization

• is a set of rules or regulations that do two things 
• 1. establish or define boundaries
• 2. it tells you how to behave inside the boundaries
• EX. Morning reteen

• terminal disease of certainty
• everyone has paradigm paralysis

outsiders

courageous

systems

a set of interrelated parts that must work together

that a busy employee is a productive employee

inventory

true

true

true

true

where you are at and where you want to go and measurements

• unimportant
• ex Pissing in the wind