Chapter 5, Problem 1DQ

Take a process that you encounter on a daily basis, such as the lunch cafeteria or the journey from your home to school or work, and identify the bottlenecks that limit the throughput of this process.

Summary Introduction

Interpretation: The barriers that hinder the process that is carried out regularly, i.e., a repeated process.

Concept Introduction: A bottleneck is the neck of a bottle, which restricts the flow of the liquid out of the bottle. In the case of process management, it refers to the sub-process and/or the activity which restricts the flow.

Answer to Problem 1DQ

Taking the process of getting ready for office and reaching the office:

• It is seen that preparing and eating breakfast is the constraint most of the time.
• At other times, driving to office becomes the constraint (due to allocated reasons).

Explanation of Solution

The process of getting ready for office and reaching the office is made up of many sub-processes/activities which can be sketched as follows:

  

In such a process, there is no tangible output but there is only one OUTCOME, that of reaching the office in time. The percent of times, the operator reaches in time is a measure of the efficiency of this process.

The outcome of reaching late may coincide with a longer time spent on preparing breakfast or longer time spent in driving.