Transport And Communications 2023, 11(2):7-14 | DOI: 10.26552/tac.C.2023.2.2

Evolution of the Theory of Constraints: a Literature Review

Daniel Chamrada1, Jaroslav Kollmann1
1 Institute of Technology and Business in České Budějovice, Department of Management, Okruľní 517, 370 01 České Budějovice, Czech Republic

The presented article deals with the analysis of current literature, focusing on the issue of the theory of constraints (ToC). The literature review is arranged in the structure of long-term defined periods and offers an insight into the development of this discipline up to 2005. The authors propose the extension of the given classification according to the ToC application after 2005, when the given approach is extended most often to Supply Chain management and, together with Lean and Six Sigma, to small and medium-sized enterprises.

Keywords: theory of constraints, optimization, goal, management, drum-buffer-rope, operations research, review
JEL classification: C44, C61, M11

Received: November 17, 2023; Accepted: November 28, 2023; Published: December 30, 2023  Show citation

ACS AIP APA ASA Harvard Chicago Chicago Notes IEEE ISO690 MLA NLM Turabian Vancouver
Chamrada, D., & Kollmann, J. (2023). Evolution of the Theory of Constraints: a Literature Review. Transport And Communications, 11(2), 7-14. doi: 10.26552/tac.C.2023.2.2
Share...
Download citation
  • BibTeX (.bib)
  • Bookends (.ris)
  • EasyBib (.ris)
  • EndNote (.enw)
  • EndNote 8 (.xml)
  • ISI WoS (.isi)
  • Medlars (.medlars)
  • Mendeley (.ris)
  • MODS (.xml)
  • Papers (.ris)
  • RefWorks (.txt)
  • RefManager (.ris)
  • RIS (.ris)
  • MS Word (.xml)
  • Zotero (.ris)
    • Open full article

    References

    1. Aggarwal, S. C. (1985). MRP, JIT, OPT, FMS? Harvard Business Review, 63(5), 8-16. ISSN 0017-8012.
    2. Al Amin, M., Rahman, A., & Shahriar, A. (2020). Application of Theory of Constraints in Supply Chain Management. Paper presented at the International Conference on Mechanical, Industrial and Energy Engineering, Khulna, Bangladesh.
    3. Alber, K. L., & Walker, T. W. (1998). Supply chain management: principles and techniques for the practitioner. Research Paper Series, APICS Educational and Research Foundation, Falls Church, VA. ISBN 978-0273651000.
    4. Anastasiu, L., Câmpian, C., & Roman, N. (2023). Boosting Construction Project Timeline: The Case of Critical Chain Project Management (CCPM). Buildings, 13(5). https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings13051249 Go to original source...
    5. Aripin, N. M., Nawanir, G., Mahmud, F., Fauzi, M. A., Hussain, S., & Lee, K. L. (2023). Systematic Literature Review: Theory Perspective in Lean Manufacturing Performance. Management Systems in Production Engineering, 31(2), 230-241. https://doi.org/10.2478/mspe-2023-0025 Go to original source...
    6. Aryanezhad, M. B., & Komijan, A. R. (2004). An improved algorithm for optimizing product mix under the theory of constraints. International Journal of Production Research, 42(20), 4221-4233. https://doi.org/10.1080/00207540410001695961 Go to original source...
    7. Balakrishnan, J., & Cheng, C. H. (2005). The theory of constraints and the make-or-buy decision: An update and review. Journal of Supply Chain Management, 41(1), 40-47. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1745-493X.2005.tb00183.x Go to original source...
    8. Bostan, R. I. (2018). TOC, Lean, Six Sigma Are Complementary? Ovidius University Annals, Economic Sciences Series, Ovidius University of Constantza, Faculty of Economic Sciences, 0(2), 389-394. ISSN 2393-3127.
    9. Boyd, L. H., & Cox, J. F. (2002). Optimal decision-making using cost accounting information. International Journal of Production Research, 40(8), 1879-1898. http://doi.org/10.1080/00207540210122239 Go to original source...
    10. Bylinski, G. (1983). An efficiency guru with a brown box. Fortune, 108, 120-132. ISSN 0015-8259.
    11. Caspari, J. A., & Caspari, P. (2004). Management Dynamics: Merging Constraints Accounting to Drive Improvement. Hoboken, NJ: John Wiley & Sons. ISBN 978-0471672319.
    12. Cie¶la, B., & Kolny, D. (2019). Visual process analysis in SMEs as a support for management models on example of TOC. Journal of Systems Integration, 2, 19-27. http://doi.org/10.20470/jsi.v10i2.369 Go to original source...
    13. Coman, A., & Ronen, B. (1994). IS Management by Constraints: Coupling IS Effort to Changes in Business Bottlenecks. Human Systems Management, 13, 65-70. http://doi.org/10.3233/HSM-1994-13109 Go to original source...
    14. Cook, D. P. (1994). A simulation comparison of traditional, JIT, and TOC manufacturing systems in a flow shop with bottlenecks. Production and Inventory Management Journal, 35(1), 73-78. ISSN 0897-8336.
    15. Corbett, T. (1998). Throughput Accounting: TOC's Management Accounting System. Great Barrington: North River Press. ISBN 978-0884271581
    16. Da Silva Stefano, G., Antunes, T. S., Lacerda, D. P., Wolf Motta Morandi, M. I., & Piran, F. A. (2022). The impacts of inventory in transfer pricing and net income: Differences between traditional accounting and throughput accounting. The British Accounting Review, 54(2). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bar.2021.101001 Go to original source...
    17. Dias, R. M. F., Silva, L. D., & Tenera, A. (2019). Application of a proposed TLS model in a lean productive system. Independent Journal of Management & Production, 10(1), 76-100. http://doi.org/10.14807/ijmp.v10i1.830 Go to original source...
    18. Ehié, I. C., & Sheu, C. (2005). Integrating Six Sigma and theory of constraints for continuous improvement: A case study. Journal of Manufacturing Technology Management, 16(5), 542-553. http://doi.org/10.1108/17410380510600518 Go to original source...
    19. Ekles, E., & Türkmen, M. A. (2022). Integrating the Theory of Constraints and Six Sigma: Process Improvement Implementation. Istanbul Business Research, 51(1), 123-147. https://doi.org/10.26650/ibr.2022.51.938481 Go to original source...
    20. Fox, R. E. (1984). Main Bottleneck on the Factory Floor? Management Review, 73(11), 55-61. ISSN 2198-1639.
    21. Fredendall, L. D., & Lea, B. R. (1997). Improving the product mix heuristic in the theory of constraints. International Journal of Production Research, 35, 1535-1544. ISSN 1366-588X. Go to original source...
    22. Fry, T. D., & Cox, J. F. (1989). Manufacturing Performance: Local Versus Global Measures. Production and Inventory Management Journal, 30(2), 52. ISSN 0897-8336.
    23. Gattiker, T. F., & Boyd, L. H. (1999). A cause-and-effect approach to analyzing continuous improvement at an electronics manufacturing facility. Production and Inventory Management Journal, 40(2), 26-31. ISSN 0897-8336.
    24. Goldratt, E. M. (1980). Optimized Production Timetable: A Revolutionary Program for Industry. Paper presented at the APICS 23rd Annual Conference Proceedings, Cleveland, Ohio.
    25. Goldratt, E. M. (1983). Cost accounting: The number one enemy of productivity. Paper presented at the APICS 26th International Conference Proceedings, Falls Church, Virginia.
    26. Goldratt, E. M. (1990). What is this thing called the theory of constraints and how should it be implemented? Croton-on-Hudson, New York: North River Press. ISBN 978-0884271666.
    27. Goldratt, E. M. (1994). It's not luck. Aldershot: Gower. ISBN 0-566-07627-6.
    28. Goldratt, E. M. (1997). Critical Chain. Great Barrington: North River Press. ISBN 978-0566080388.
    29. Goldratt, E. M. (1984). The Goal: Excellence in Manufacturing. Great Barrington, MA: North River Press. ISBN 978-0-88427-178-9.
    30. Gupta, M., Andersen, S. (2018). Throughput/inventory dollar-days: TOC-based measures for supply chain collaboration. International Journal of Production Research, 56(13), 4659-4675. https://doi.org/10.1080/00207543.2018.1444805 Go to original source...
    31. Gupta, M., Digalwar, A., Gupta, A., & Goyal, A. (2022). Integrating Theory of Constraints, Lean, and Six Sigma: a framework development and its application. Production Planning & Control, pp. 1-24. https://doi.org/10.1080/09537287.2022.2071351 Go to original source...
    32. Chaudhari, C. V., & Mukhopadhyay, S. K. (2003). Application of theory of constraints in an integrated poultry industry. International Journal of Production Research, 41(4), 799. https://doi.org/10.1080/0020754031000065548 Go to original source...
    33. Jacobs, R. F. (1983). The OPT Scheduling System: A Review of a Production Scheduling System. Production and Inventory Management Journal, 24(3), 47-51. ISSN 0897-8336.
    34. Jadhav, A. K., & Dhawale, A. W. (2021). Analysis of Various Constraints and Application of TOC in Construction Project. International Journal of Application or Innovation in Engineering & Management (IJAIEM), 10(7), 015-019. ISSN 2319 - 4847.
    35. Jesus Pacheco, D., Pergher, I., Vaccaro, G. L. R., & Jung, C. F. (2015). Comparative aspects between Lean and Six Sigma: Complementarity and implications. International Journal of Lean Six Sigma, 6(2), 161-175. http://doi.org/10.1108/IJLSS-05-2014-0012 Go to original source...
    36. Johnson, H. T., & Kaplan, R. S. (1987). Relevance Lost: The Rise and Fall of Management Accounting. Boston: Harvard Business School Press. ISBN 978-0875842547
    37. Kim, S., Mabin, V. J., & Davies, J. (2008). The theory of constraints thinking processes: retrospect and prospect. International Journal of Operations & Production Management, 28(2), 155-184. http://doi.org/10.1108/01443570810846883 Go to original source...
    38. Kumar, N., Siddiqui M. T., & Suhail, M. (2020). Theory of Constraints: A Review on its Evolution and Adoption. The International journal of analytical and experimental modal analysis, 12(9), 954-969. ISSN 0886-9367. http://doi.org/10.1108/01443579810199720 Go to original source...
    39. Lizarralde, A., Mediavilla, M., Apaolaza, U. (2020). A Strategic Approach for Bottleneck Identification in Make-To-Order Environments: A Drum-Buffer-Rope Action Research Based Case Study. Journal of Industrial Engineering and Management, 13(1), 18-37. https://doi.org/10.3926/jiem.2868 Go to original source...
    40. Lokhande, P. S., & Chaudhari, R. S. (2021). Application of Theory of Constraint to Construction Project-A Case Study. JETIR, 8(3), 2081-2087. ISSN 2349-5162.
    41. Lundrigan, R. (1986). What is this thing called OPT? Production and Inventory Management Journal, 27(2), 2-11. ISSN 0897-8336.
    42. Mason-Jones, R., Davies, P. G., & Thomas, A. (2022). Applying the Theory of Constraints to Explore the UK Renewable-Energy Supply Chain. Sustainability, 14(20). https://doi.org/10.3390/su142013307 Go to original source...
    43. McCleskey, J. A. (2020). Forty Years and Still Evolving: The Theory of Constraints. American Journal of Management, 20(3), 65-74. https://doi.org/10.33423/ajm.v20i3.3108 Go to original source...
    44. Mehdizadeh, E., & Jalili, S. (2018). An algorithm based on theory of constraints and branch and bound for solving integrated product-mix-outsourcing problem. Journal of Optimization in Industrial Engineering, 12(1), 167-172. https://doi.org/10.22094/JOIE.2018.664.1429 Go to original source...
    45. Meleton, M. P. (1986). OPT - fantasy or breakthrough? Production and Inventory Management Journal, 27(2), 13-21. ISSN 0897-8336.
    46. Miguel, E. M., Ribera, T. B., Guillem, J. M. A., & Pérez, C. M. D. (2010). Revision to Theory of Constraints. Berlin, Heidelberg: Springer Berlin Heidelberg, 193-201. ISBN 978-3-642-14340-3. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-14341-0_23 Go to original source...
    47. Nave, D. (2002). How to compare Six Sigma, lean and the theory of constraints. Quality Progress, 35(3), 73-78. ISSN 0033-524X.
    48. Noreen, E. W., Smith, D., & Mackey, J. T. (1995). The Theory of Constraints and Its Implications for Management Accounting. New York: North River Press. ISBN 978-0884271161.
    49. Onwubolu, G. C. (2001). Tabu Search-Based Algorithm for the TOC Product Mix Decision. International Journal of Production Research, 39(10), 2065-2076. https://doi.org/10.1080/00207540010005736 Go to original source...
    50. Opoku, R.K. (2022). Inventory management strategies of manufacturing industries: evidence from food processing firms in Ghana. International Journal of Value Chain Management, 13(3), 258-280. https://doi.org/10.1504/IJVCM.2022.125855 Go to original source...
    51. Orue, A., Lizarralde, A., Amorrortu, I., & Apaolaza, U. (2021). Theory of Constraints Case Study in the Make-to-Order Environment. Journal of Industrial Engineering and Management, 14(1), 72-85. https://doi.org/10.3926/jiem.3283 Go to original source...
    52. Panizzolo, R. (2016). Theory of Constraints (TOC) Production and Manufacturing Performance. International Journal of Industrial Engineering and Management, 7(1), 15-23. https://doi.org/10.24867/IJIEM Go to original source...
    53. Puche, J., Costas, J., Ponte, B., de la Fuente, D. (2019). The effect of supply chain noise on the financial performance of Kanban and drum-buffer-rope: An agent-based perspective. Expert Systems with Applications, 120, 87-102. http://doi.org/10.1016/j.eswa.2018.11.009 Go to original source...
    54. Rahman, S. (2002). The theory of constraints' thinking process approach to developing strategies in supply chains. International Journal of Physical Distribution and Logistics Management, 32(10), 809. http://doi.org/10.1108/09600030210455429 Go to original source...
    55. Sobiyi, K., & Akinlabi, E. (2017). Application of Theory of Constraints in South Africa: A case study in a platinum mine. Proceedings of the 2017 International Conference on Industrial Engineering and Operations Management, Bristol, UK, July 24-25, 2017.
    56. Robinson, H., & Richards, R. (2010). Critical Chain Project Management: Motivation & overview. Paper presented at the 2010 IEEE Aerospace Conference, Big Sky, Montana. https://doi.org/10.1109/aero.2010.5446879 Go to original source...
    57. Scheinkopf, L. J. (1999). Thinking for a Change: Putting the TOC thinking processes to use. Boca Raton, FL: St. Lucie Press. ISBN 978-1574441017. Go to original source...
    58. Simatupang, T. M., Wright, A. C., & Sridharan, R. (2004). Applying the theory of constraints to supply chain collaboration. Supply Chain Management: An International Journal, 9(1), 57-70. https://doi.org/10.1108/13598540410517584 Go to original source...
    59. Simchi-Levi, D., Kaminsky, P., Simchi-Levi, E., & Shankar, R. (2008). Designing and managing the supply chain: concepts, strategies and case studies. Tata McGrawHill Education. ISBN 978-0073403366.
    60. Şimşit, Z. T., Günay N. S., & Vayvay, Ö. (2014). Theory of Constraints: A Literature Review. International Strategic Management Conference, 150, 930-936. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sbspro.2014.09.104 Go to original source...
    61. Singh, K., & Misra, S. (2018). Theory of constraints for managing downstream supply chain in Indian FMCG sector: A literature review. Journal of Supply Chain Management Systems, 7(1), 50-66. ISSN 2277-1387.
    62. Smith, D. (2000). The Measurement Nightmare: How the Theory of Constraints can Resolve Conflicting Strategies, Policies and Measures. Boca Raton, FL: St. Lucie Press. ISBN 978-1574442465. Go to original source...
    63. Soni, A. (2011). Four Ways to Combine Six Sigma With Theory of Constraints (TOC). In: Process Excellence Network [online]. Process Excellence Network, 2011. Available from: https://www.processexcellencenetwork.com/lean-six-sigma-business-performance/articles/harnessing-the-synergy-six-sigma-and-theory-of
    64. Wang, F., Lai X., & Shi, N. (2011). A multi-objective optimization for green supply chain network design. Decision Support Systems, 51(2), 262-269. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.dss.2010.11.020 Go to original source...
    65. Watson, K. J., Blackstone, J. H., & Gardiner, S. C. (2007). The evolution of a management philosophy: The theory of constraints. Journal of Operations Management, 25(2), 387-402. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jom.2006.04.004 Go to original source...
    66. Watson, K. J., & Polito, T. (2003). Comparison of DRP and TOC financial performance within a multi-product, multi-echelon physical distribution environment. International Journal of Production Research, 41(4), 741-765. https://doi.org/10.1080/0020754031000065511 Go to original source...
    67. Wu, H. H., Huang, H. H., & Jen, W. T. (2012). A Study of the Elongated Replenishment Frequency of TOC Supply Chain Replenishment Systems in Plants. International Journal of Production Research, 50(19), 5567-5581. https://doi.org/10.1080/00207543.2011.649803 Go to original source...
    68. Sobreiro, V. A., & Nagano, M. S. (2012). A Review and Evaluation on Constructive Heuristics to Optimise Product Mix Based on the Theory of Constraints. International Journal of Production Research, 50(20), 5936-5948. https://doi.org/10.1080/00207543.2011.638940 Go to original source...
    69. Wang, F., Lai, X., & Shi, N. (2011). A multi-objective optimization for green supply chain network design. Decision Support Systems, 51(2), 262-269. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.dss.2010.11.020 Go to original source...
    70. Watson, K. J., Blackstone, J. H., & Gardiner, S. C. (2007). The evolution of a management philosophy: The theory of constraints. Journal of Operations Management, 25(2), 387-402. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jom.2006.04.004 Go to original source...
    71. Wu, H. H., Huang, H. H., & Jen, W. T. (2012). A Study of the Elongated Replenishment Frequency of TOC Supply Chain Replenishment Systems in Plants. International Journal of Production Research, 50(19), 5567-5581. https://doi.org/10.1080/00207543.2011.649803 Go to original source...

    This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (CC BY 4.0), which permits use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original publication is properly cited. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.


    Return to the content