Final answer:
The Theory of Constraints uses five primary steps for ongoing improvement: Identifying constraints, exploiting constraints, subordinating everything else to these decisions, elevating constraints, and preventing inertia from becoming a constraint.
Step-by-step explanation:
The Theory of Constraints (TOC) is a philosophy for ongoing improvement in manufacturing, project management, and other areas. Although TOC encompasses various tools and methods, there are five primary steps used to implement the ongoing improvement process, often referred to as the Five Focusing Steps. These are:
- Identify the system's constraint(s).
- Exploit the system's constraint(s).
- Subordinate everything else to the above decisions.
- Elevate the system's constraint(s).
- Prevent inertia from becoming the system's constraint and restart the process.
These steps guide an organization in addressing the most critical limitations that prevent it from achieving its goals and encourage continuous reassessment and improvement.