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Theory of Constraints

Managing Buffers

The the­o­ry of con­straints uses buffers to pro­tect the system’s con­straint. Buffers are not just extra inven­to­ry. Instead, it’s a care­ful­ly sized cush­ion of time, mate­r­i­al, or capac­i­ty. Learn the dif­fer­ent types of buffers we can use in var­i­ous work envi­ron­ments, the steps for imple­ment­ing buffer man­age­ment, com­mon mis­takes to avoid, and the role of lead­er­ship in ensur­ing success.

Course Videos

1

What Is Theory of Constraints (TOC)?

03:36

 2

What Is a Constraint in TOC?

05:22Members only

 3

TOC Mindset: Throughput, Inventory, Operating Expense

03:21Members only

 4

The Five Focusing Steps of TOC

04:11Members only

 5

TOC Step 1: Identify the Constraint

03:09Members only

 6

TOC Step 2: Exploit the Constraint

04:11Members only

 7

TOC Step 3: Subordinate Everything Else

04:56Members only

 8

TOC Step 4: Elevate the Constraint

03:48Members only

 9

TOC Step 5: Prevent Inertia & Repeat

03:08Members only

 10

Cause-and-Effect Thinking with the Current Reality Tree

06:42Members only

 11

Resolving Conflicts with the Evaporating Cloud

07:47Members only

 12

Designing Breakthrough Solutions with the Future Reality Tree

04:16Members only

 13

Overcoming Obstacles with the Prerequisite Tree

07:01Members only

 14

Turning Plans into Action with the Transition Tree

05:37Members only

 15

Drum-Buffer-Rope Basics

05:17Members only

Current Video

Managing Buffers

05:43Members only

17

Next VideoWhat Is CCPM Critical Chain Project Management?

07:42Members only

 18

Throughput Accounting Basics

05:09Members only

 19

Theory Of Constraints Case Study

05:22Members only

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Next Video What Is CCPM Critical Chain Project Management? 

Many project teams suf­fer from delays or missed dead­lines, even when fol­low­ing a struc­tured project man­age­ment approach. This hap­pens when we don’t ful­ly account for real-world resource lim­i­ta­tions or human behav­ior. The The­o­ry of Con­straints uses an approach called Crit­i­cal Chain Project Man­age­ment, or CCPM, to address this prob­lem. Learn how CCPM applies the con­cept of con­straints to the crit­i­cal chain of project tasks, man­ages risks using buffers, and incor­po­rates var­i­ous project mon­i­tor­ing practices.