Context
Before Theory of Constraints existed as a Theory, it was built into software that offered a radically different approach to plant scheduling.
But then for more than 6 years Eli Goldratt, the originator of the Theory of Constraints, stayed away from software to focus on "thoughtware," and the one software package he eventually had his team design was marketed and implemented for only a short time.
Recently, as Eli has been advocating a program (Viable Vision) emphasizing extremely aggressive sales growth, TOC software has been essential to provide the Operations performance platform needed to support the sales growth (both in terms of coping with it, and creating the competitive performance to feed it); but this software is coming from 3rd party vendors, not from Eli's organization.
Theory of Constraints and SoftwareTheory of Constraints has many facets; a management philosophy, an improvement technology, a suite of Thinking Processes to analyze and plan more effectively; and, the applications:
In some areas, software is of little value. In others, it is extremely useful. And others ... essential. In Production, in some simple environments, Drum-Buffer-Rope scheduling can be achieved with a simple whiteboard. Many TOC consultants have chosen spreadsheets to implement DBR in even some quite complex environments, with success. And now there are several software packages designed explicitly to support DBR and the newest variation, sDBR (simplified DBR). Some ERP systems have been expanded to include DBR functionality, although the functionality was often poorly conceived or executed. Some DBR systems have been built with a high level of TOC understanding reflected in their content, and designed to work in integration with ERP systems. Several more recent software developments (none, to the best of my knowledge, adaptations of existing software) have been used to enable companies to implement TOC-style Replenishment - Replenishment of Material, Finished Goods, and downstream Supply Chain inventories according to the TOC logic. In simple environments, spreadsheets can supply some of the functionality but the software dedicated to this function is head-and-shoulders above the spreadsheet capability. The TOC Project Management solution called Critical Chain Project Management is almost impossible to use effectively without software, and there are several software applications that have been developed in support of this powerful technology. Several of these (but not all) work by adding CCPM functionality to Microsoft's MS Project software. And finally, there is even custom-built software to support the Theory of Constraints' Thinking Processes. Most TOC "Jonahs" have used various diagramming tools over the years, none entirely satisfactory; today there is a formal tool to support the Current Reality Tree, Evaporating Cloud, Future Reality Tree and Prerequisite Tree planning and analytical tools.
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