Applying theory of constraints on ongoing improvement in manufacturing system dealing with animal feed

The Theory of Constraints (TOC) is an overall management philosophy that has its basis in the manufacturing environment. Using the TOC philosophy enables the managers to achieve most of the goals that the system is designed for. A factor that controls a company's ability to achieve most of its goals is referred to as a 'constraint'. Businesses need to identify and manage constraints. The primary among them is a five-step methodology, which ensures that system level improvement efforts are guarded properly rather than deviating into non-productive processes of the system. In this study, we applied the theory of constraint's five-step methodology in one of the leading animal feed businesses in India to identify systems' constraints and to achieving ongoing improvement by addressing these constraints continuously in the organisation. The application has yielded in increasing the throughput as well as the responsiveness that resulted in substantial benefits to the organisation.