Theory of Constraints (ToC)
Overview
The Theory of Constraints is a management philosophy that focuses on identifying and managing the most limiting factor (constraint) that stands in the way of achieving a goal.
Core Concept
"A chain is no stronger than its weakest link."
In any system, there is always ONE constraint that limits the system's output. Improving anything other than the constraint is a waste of resources.
The Five Focusing Steps
- IDENTIFY the constraint
- EXPLOIT the constraint (maximize its efficiency)
- SUBORDINATE everything else to the constraint
- ELEVATE the constraint (add capacity)
- REPEAT - find the new constraint
Application to OCapistaine
Constraint: Data Acquisition
In our project, the primary constraint is data acquisition from municipal sources:
| Constraint | Impact | Resolution |
|---|---|---|
| Firecrawl API rate limits | Slows document collection | Batch processing, caching |
| OCR processing time | Bottleneck for PDFs | Parallel processing |
| Municipal website structure | Requires custom extraction | Adaptive scraping |
Budget Constraints
For civic projects with limited budgets:
| Resource | Constraint | Strategy |
|---|---|---|
| API Credits | Limited Firecrawl calls | Prioritize high-value sources |
| Compute | Local processing limits | Cloud bursting for peaks |
| Time | 4-week hackathon deadline | Focus on MVP features |
Integration with TRIZ
Theory of Constraints identifies what to solve. TRIZ provides how to solve it.
When facing a constraint that seems unsolvable, apply TRIZ contradiction resolution:
- If constraint is "resource vs. ambition" → See TRIZ patterns
Resources
- Goldratt, E. (1984). The Goal: A Process of Ongoing Improvement
- ToC Institute