TOCICO

This presentation clarifies the significance of the TOC five focusing steps, before relating this approach both philosophically and theoretically to other operations management theory and improvement strategies. Firstly, I clarify how the theory of constraints (TOC) five step process underpins both the thinking processes and the established drum buffer rope, critical chain project management, and make to availability) applications (DBR, CCPM and MTA). The 5 steps will then be related to broader academic theory and strategies, clarifying the underlying paradigm shift and the significant theoretical contributions associated with TOC. This identifies both the operational depth and the cross functional breadth of the associated theory. The presentation will then turn to consider how the TOC applications both extend and compliment other theoretical approaches that have also addressed related paradigm shifts in operations management theory. This section will highlight how TOC thinking has both clarified and extended the work of authors, such as Deming (1993) and Ohno (1988), in the process of creating a broader and more generalized theory. The presentation concludes by providing an understanding of how the theory provides a basis for extending the applications into complex service-based environments with particular reference to health and social care.