In any complex manufacturing process, throughput is governed by a single step: the constraint. Often referred to as “the weakest link in the chain,” the constraint is the fulcrum of your entire process.
Focusing improvement efforts anywhere other than the constraint yields limited results. If you improve a non-constraint machine, you may simply create more work-in-process (WIP) waiting for the actual bottleneck. The fastest path to improved productivity and profitability is to focus your resources exclusively on identifying and measuring the constraint.
How do you find it? Look for these clues on the factory floor:
Work in Progress: Large accumulations of inventory often sit immediately before the constraint.
Utilisation: The constraint is usually the equipment with the highest utilization, always having work but often running behind.
Operator Insight: Operators often know exactly which equipment is failing to keep up with demand.
Once identified, OEE should be measured specifically at the constraint to ensure you are capturing all internal and external losses affecting your total throughput.
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