sDBR episode 02
Who Cares? aka The Audience for Simplified Drum-Buffer-Rope
[may I assume you have read the previous episodes?]
Whenever I’m trying to help people understand what this word ‘system’ means, I usually start by asking: ‘Are you a part of a family?’ Everybody is a part of a family.
—Peter Senge
Once we understand that we are talking about a ‘system’ and not a computer system, then we may dive into sDBR which is based on systems thinking. Goldratt’s TOC is a higher form of ordered thinking in my experience. Ready?
Who Should Care About sDBR?
By Industry: I have personally applied TOC (Theory of Constraints) in many industries, with the notable exception of food and beverage. Obviously in manufacturing, distribution, wholesale, retail, software development, and medical devices to name a few of my favorites.
By Function: As a generalist, I have served in most common roles or positions from temp to maintenance programmer to DBA, CIO, CTO, CFO and CEO as well as the founder of over twelve startups. The short answer is this: If you make decisions then you could benefit from sDBR.
By Skillset: It does not matter how educated one might be [or not be] if you are a life long learner and interested to increase your throughput [a very specific word choice that will be explained in a future episode]. Irrespective of personal or professional challenges that are keeping you awake at nights.
Allow me to go one step further: This was created for posting on LinkedIn. There is enough confusion about TOC and sDBR on that platform that a more thorough explanation with examples seemed like a good use of my time. I first applied it in 2004 with amazing results.
Finally, Is there anyone who should not use Simplified DBR, or perhaps, would be misled by it? Great question. Absolutely there are!
Consider how most of us [perhaps the USA only] learned to do math. When I grew up we had to memorize the multiplication table up to at least 12 times 12. Kids today are being forced to use Common Core. One observation: Want to rob a country of its ability to think? Just introduce Common Core. Sad, but also criminal IMNSHO.
Therefore, those that have not studied traditional Drum-Buffer-Rope may not understand why this truly simplified approach makes sense. Those of us early into TOC and the Logical Thinking Process (TLTP) spent a lot of time in our first attempts trying to get these three elements exactly right. Often wasting days and in too many cases often weeks in search of the “one weakest link” to determine the proper Drum (and therefore, the proper cadence or pace for operations).
The Weakest Link
By definition, this is a basic concept. No smoke and mirrors, just a simple term that should convey exactly the efforts required to select the best drum. Not so fast. What happened was [and is] human nature: Professionals and very smart ones at that find themselves in a shouting match over where the biggest bottleneck may be found, much like what Zig Ziglar called the equivalent of two fleas arguing over the ownership of the dog’s back upon which they find themselves. Ouch.
So, Shragenheim and Dettmer as consummate educators do the world yet one more favor: They explain DBR in their book about sDBR. First. How cool is that?! Very. Please allow me to share a great primer on TOC that will help those new to or those confused by Goldratt’s theory: Read or listen to Chapter 12 of Critical Chain. I recommend newbies always start with this book first as it is set in higher education and most of us can relate. However, the topic in this Chapter is a Steel Mill. Trust me, it will make a lot more sense if we share the experiences of turning around a Steel Mill losing millions of dollars, in just thirty (30) days. Yes, thirty days. That is not a typo.
Tune in next time: More on Red Horse Motorworks
#sDBR #ROI #TheoryOfConstraints #JeffSkiKinsey