About this Presentation
This session presents research focused on making the TOC Thinking Processes (TP) accessible to everyone through generative AI. Building on last year’s prototype—which used Retrieval-Augmented Generation (RAG) and prompt chaining to help non-experts quickly create UDEs and CRTs—three major enhancements were introduced this year: a dialogue-based interface for sequential question-answer interaction, an AI agent that incorporates industry-specific knowledge, and a system reconstruction as a GPT app for broader deployment. These upgrades further reduce the entry barrier to TP and support faster, more inclusive problem-solving.
Attendees will:
Learn how to use generative AI agents to construct UDEs and CRTs
Apply RAG-based techniques to support root-cause analysis
Explore interactive dialogue systems to guide non-experts through TP
Gain insight into integrating AI tools into organizational problem-solving frameworks
What Will You Learn
To help you get the most value from this session, we’ve highlighted a few key points. These takeaways capture the main ideas and practical insights from the presentation, making it easier for you to review, reflect, and apply what you’ve learned.
The session shows how AI can accelerate TOC Thinking Processes by generating credible first drafts that help teams start meaningful analysis sooner—without replacing human insight or consensus building.
It reveals why the real value of Thinking Processes lies not in diagrams, but in structured dialogue, and how AI can support that dialogue rather than shortcut it.
The presentation introduces a new way to explore UDEs, CRTs, and future states interactively, making advanced TOC thinking more accessible across languages, roles, and experience levels.
It hints at how AI agents may shift TOC work from expert-only craftsmanship to scalable organizational capability—while preserving rigor and intent.
Instructor(s)
Hirotsugu Nakai
Project Director at Progressive Flow Japan Ltd., where he leads strategic initiatives in business process design, new business development, and production system optimization. After completing his graduate studies, he began his career at a major patent law firm and later joined a company operating a restaurant search and reservation platform. There, he served as Head of the President’s Office and Chief Researcher, launching new ventures and internal research institutes. He has extensive experience as a consultant in the Theory of Constraints (TOC), including the implementation of Critical Chain Project Management (CCPM) across diverse industries, as well as business process improvement and innovation support. He later served as an executive officer at an AI-focused company, where he was engaged in the development of digital transformation (DX) and AI solutions. Since 2020, he has been involved in managing a wide range of projects from initiation through delivery. He has also served as a part-time lecturer at Tokyo Institute of Technology and as a review committee member for government-led venture investment programs.