Analyzing “the Goal” as Fictional Case Study
Constraint Management at UniCo:
Analyzing “The Goal” as Fictional Case Study
Abstract
As a fictional case study, Eliyahu Goldratt’s novel about manufacturing, “The Goal: A Process of Ongoing Improvement,” presents a constraint-focused approach to production management. As a novel, the book does not emphasize the quantitative details of the plant improvements. However, a great amount of information about the plant is spread throughout the book. By collecting and analyzing this data, a concrete picture may be developed of the plant’s capacity and its improvements, which can greatly help the book’s readers understand and evaluate the cumulative impact from the plant’s “process of ongoing improvement.” Keywords: Production planning, Theory of constraints, Drum buffer rope
Introduction: The Goal as Fictional Case Study
Eliyahu Goldratt’s manufacturing novel The Goal: A Process of Continuous Improvement has inspired countless professionals in production (and many other fields (Whitford, 2004)) to embark on their own efforts of continuous improvement. As Rand (1986) writes, “It’s a novel, but it’s also a manufacturing text-book, and it’s good on both accounts.” Many reviewers have agreed The Goal is an easy-to read way to get an introduction to production realities (Belis, 1994, The Economist 1995, Dani 2006, Rand 1986). However, no one has taken a detailed look at the numbers presented in the book as a fictional case study. The concept of drum-buffer-rope (DBR) production control has been discussed considerably in the literature (for just a small, recent sample, see Ye and Han 2008, Jodlbauer and Huber 2008, and Watson and Patti 2008). The first formal presentation of DBR was by Goldratt and Fox (1986), but before that detailed presentation, it was first known in The Goal, and that is where most practitioners likely first learn about it. After a casual reading (or even a careful one), the reader may be
Analyzing “The Goal” as Fictional Case Study
Abstract
As a fictional case study, Eliyahu Goldratt’s novel about manufacturing, “The Goal: A Process of Ongoing Improvement,” presents a constraint-focused approach to production management. As a novel, the book does not emphasize the quantitative details of the plant improvements. However, a great amount of information about the plant is spread throughout the book. By collecting and analyzing this data, a concrete picture may be developed of the plant’s capacity and its improvements, which can greatly help the book’s readers understand and evaluate the cumulative impact from the plant’s “process of ongoing improvement.” Keywords: Production planning, Theory of constraints, Drum buffer rope
Introduction: The Goal as Fictional Case Study
Eliyahu Goldratt’s manufacturing novel The Goal: A Process of Continuous Improvement has inspired countless professionals in production (and many other fields (Whitford, 2004)) to embark on their own efforts of continuous improvement. As Rand (1986) writes, “It’s a novel, but it’s also a manufacturing text-book, and it’s good on both accounts.” Many reviewers have agreed The Goal is an easy-to read way to get an introduction to production realities (Belis, 1994, The Economist 1995, Dani 2006, Rand 1986). However, no one has taken a detailed look at the numbers presented in the book as a fictional case study. The concept of drum-buffer-rope (DBR) production control has been discussed considerably in the literature (for just a small, recent sample, see Ye and Han 2008, Jodlbauer and Huber 2008, and Watson and Patti 2008). The first formal presentation of DBR was by Goldratt and Fox (1986), but before that detailed presentation, it was first known in The Goal, and that is where most practitioners likely first learn about it. After a casual reading (or even a careful one), the reader may be
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