Constraint Management In Manufacturing: Optimising The Supply Chain


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Constraint Management in Manufacturing This book is about making money out of the supply chain. It is impossible to improve the performance of any chain without a deep understanding of the impact of the weakest link in that chain—the constraint. Without a constraint management perspective both supply chain management and lean thinking lack focus and the real leverage that senior managers within the manufacturing industry are seeking. Attempting to achieve any major improvement in performance without recognising the impact of the constraint will inevitably lead to less performance than expected, and in many cases no improvement at all. The book has been written for both practitioner and researcher alike. It is capable of being a textbook for anyone teaching operations management and related subjects, and at the same time can act as a guide for those seeking to improve the performance of their own company. The book addresses the increasing demand to create an approach to the manufacturing process which places constraint management into an overall perspective and links it to the creative use of new technologies such as the Web. The book draws on the author’s own experiences within the UK manufacturing industry in implementing constraint management, using case studies to highlight the key issues faced in the journey to substantially enhanced bottom-line performance. It examines the role of new product development, the role of production, the role of distribution, the development of the team, and the strategic focus required to turn the supply chain, or what the author calls the ‘Revenue Chain’, into a real, practical, approach for any company. Ted Hutchin is one of Europe’s leading consultants in constraint management. As founder and managing director of I. & J.Munn Ltd he has implemented constraint management solutions throughout the manufacturing industry. As part of his work within the industry he has carried out many research assignments and developed teaching/training material based on his research and designed to transfer the knowledge he has gained to those within the industry. He is a member of APICS, the Institute of Operations Management in the UK, the Institute of Management and the Institute of Directors in the UK. Constraint Management in Manufacturing Optimising the global supply chain Ted Hutchin London and New York First published 2002 by Taylor & Francis 11 New Fetter Lane, London EC4P 4EE Simultaneously published in the USA and Canada by Taylor & Francis Inc. 29 West 35th Street, New York, NY 10001 Taylor & Francis is an imprint of the Taylor & Francis Group This edition published in the Taylor & Francis e-Library, 2005. “To purchase your own copy of this or any of Taylor & Francis or Routledge’s collection of thousands of eBooks please go to www.eBookstore.tandf.co.uk.” © 2002 Ted Hutchin All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reprinted or reproduced or utilised in any form or by any electronic, mechanical, or other means, now known or hereafter invented, including photocopying and recording, or in any information storage or retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publishers. Every effort has been made to ensure that the advice and information in this book is true and accurate at the time of going to press. However, neither the publisher nor the authors can accept any legal responsibility or liability for any errors or omissions that may be made. In the case of drug administration, any medical procedure or the use of technical equipment mentioned within this book, you are strongly advised to consult the manufacturer’s guidelines. British Library Cataloguing in Publication Data A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library Library of Congress Cataloguing in Publication Data Hutchin, Ted. Constraint management within manufacturing: optimising the