Overview
Simplicity is the foundation of powerful solutions! The Vector blog presents simple solutions to complex business challenges. We have stayed away from jargons and “confirming” data to prove a point. Instead simple straightforward logical narratives are used to present the solution. In these blogs you will get to know how TOC can be used to design breakthrough solutions which re-create harmony in work places.
Total 43 Articles
The Components Conundrum
JIT, OEMs and the Pandemic
This article discusses the problems with the basic assumptions of the concept of JIT due to which it failed during the pandemic.
On-Time Delivery, a misnomer in New Product Development
Find out how NPD departments can ensure faster product development and avoid missing planned launch dates
Management by Tactics
Organizations are abandoning 'Management by Targets' for a radical new approach that nurtures both accountability and collaboration
Wandering bottleneck
Find out how to protect delivery due dates in manufacturing plants with wandering bottlenecks.
Managing the COVID 19 crisis: A supply chain approach
Covid-19 pandemic represents a novel dilemma - Do you choose a country's economy or health of its people? What is the way out of this dilemma?
Going beyond data for decision-making
Find out how to overcome confirmation bias in decision making. It is high time that organizations invests in improving the thoughtware for getting more and precise data elements through additional investments in hardware and software.
Leadership styles and organization culture
Find out what creates toxic work culture in an organization?
Too many cooks spoil the ..growth!
Read the article to know about how running too many initiatives simultaneously may be counter-productive
Balanced scorecard: A promise unfulfilled
Find out why the Balanced scorecard is a weak strategic management tool!
Drum-Buffer-Rope: Resolving the Capacity Utilization vs Reliability Conflict in Manufacturing Schedules
With the evolution of new manufacturing techniques, manufacturing plants became increasingly
The Curious Case of the Failed Entrepreneur
Amit Gade’s cheque bounced! Again! When it happened two months back in the month of May, it was dismissed as a one off aberration till it happened again; this was the third in as many months!
Throughput Accounting: An introduction
In era when accounting was invented, bulk of the cost of a product was truly variable. However in the current era, period expense has become substantial. So, when a significant portion of expenses is artificially allocated to a product, it creates many problems when these variables are used as measurements for decision making.
Not so Agile
The assumptions of Agile Methodology of software development create several challenges which derail projects
Scientific Revolution, Disruptive Innovation and Theory of Constraints
“Innovation”, “Disruption” have been buzzwords for a while. Pundits remind us how Nokia, Kodak didn’t act on time and got disrupted into oblivion.
A new inventory management paradigm for made to stock companies
Any business which manages stock to meet customer needs faces a key challenge in stock management –what is the right inventory?
Analyzing Mysteries of Implementing Replenishment
I think, the best of internalizing new knowledge is by analyzing case studies. So instead of just posting insights, I would like to share a case with you and some questions to ponder at the end of it…
Battling the efficiency syndrome. Effortlessly!
With implementation of Theory of Constraints solution, it is expected that all plant managers align their thinking and decision making to the paradigm of flow rather than local efficiencies.
Beating project deadlines, the CCPM way
The framework of Critical Chain Project Management (CCPM) offers a holistic approach for dealing with the Project business. A few of its nuances, however, are far from popular.
Beating the Recession Blues
Management consulting industry and all IT vendors in enterprise space, promising productivity improvement have a business cycle well aligned with the overall economy.
Blaming it on Estimation!
If one goes by the widely acclaimed Chaos reports released by the Standish Group, software projects seem to have a dubious record. In 1995, the report highlighted that only 16% of the IT projects were completed on time, within budget with original scope.
Constraints and Non-Constraints
‘An hour lost on the bottleneck is an hour lost on the entire system; An hour gained on a non-bottleneck is a mirage’
To measure or not to: The danger of focusing on measures & targets
I was addressing an audience of top management of a company recently just before a new assignment was about to kick off.
Egg before the Chicken?
The logic of CCPM appeals to common sense. The damages of bad multi-tasking and “date driven” behavior are irrefutable.
First among Equals: Marketing or Supply chain
For any company involved in manufacturing and selling of tangible products, both marketing and supply chain forms an essential aspect of business.
Focus on longest path ≠ shortest possible lead-time
Every literature on project management reminds us that the longest path of dependent tasks determines the total duration of the project.
From Sales to Production – a tale of misaligned priorities
I once had an opportunity to engage with a company producing and selling custom-built equipment for banks to try and help cut “flab” and steer the company towards improved profitability.
How to make ‘change’ happen?
In companies, there is a plethora of improvement projects deployed in any firm at any given time. But, can there be a situation where the very change that people are trying to implement becomes its own biggest hurdle?
Ignoring the Future
The Nano debuted in 2008. It was expected to be a historic event – the launch of the cheapest car ever to be sold on the planet. Auto analysts across the world prophesized the Nano would be a game changer for the Indian auto industry.
Is your Planning Method bloating your working capital Requirements?
Current downturn is putting pressure on companies not just to reduce costs but also to reduce the working capital requirements.
Why management by objectives is flawed?
One of the pre-dominant styles of conventional management is management by objectives. On the face of it, the approach appears objective. However, it is not without flaws, as the following case studies highlight.
Know your ‘constraints’
Almost every manager trying to meet targets, is dealing with obstacles that come his way. He overcomes a few, stumbles over the others. He is identifying constraints and removing them. Is this Theory of Constraints?
Lessons from a Traffic Jam
Traffic jams are a pain. It disrupts schedules and is a common excuse that people give for reaching late to work. But have you ever wondered what causes these traffic jams? One such day I decided to get out of my car and observe the various events that leads to this event.
Managing Call Centres : A Logical Approach
Today numerous call centres have been set up to help customers transact, provide transaction updates, act as help lines, answer product related queries, and even handle grievances. The job seems to be over. But Is it?
Restoring Harmony in Manufacturing Plants
I am sure most of you must have observed and experienced the extent of disharmony that exists in any organization. Unless sources of disharmony are resolved, situation will not change. Can TOC bring in harmony among people?
Sailing the Last Mile
The pull system comes into play the moment manufacturing companies or suppliers start with small quantity supplies of new range of SKUs releasing the capital of the distributor. However, to make this reality there are two important paradigms of supply chain that needs to be addressed
Sales team – A very obstinate lot!!!
People in sales are the most obstinate lot of mankind and it is very difficult to get things implemented in sales. This is the primary belief that most companies hold about the sales function, and is one with quite a bit of truth in it too.
Simple Tactics to Double Team Productivity: The science of getting work done on time
In organizations, leaders must get tasks done through their team members. On the surface, this appears to be an easy thing to do, as leaders have formal authority over their team members (by virtue of organizational hierarchy) and so, can simply issue orders to get things done.
Theory Of Constraints and the Thinking Process
Though Theory of Constraints was originally offered by Eliyahu Goldratt as a manufacturing scheduling method, over the course of his career, Goldratt evolved TOC into a systems methodology which encompasses a wide range of concepts, principles, solutions, tools and approaches
Thinking Clearly
Business ‘Experts’ generally go around departments and ask people for problems, do a gap analysis (with help of some benchmarking data) and then they arrive with solutions, almost one for each problem. Unfortunately, the inter-relationship between the problems is mostly ignored.
To batch or not to batch
Batching issues tend have a profound influence on the flow characteristics of a manufacturing plant and substantial gains can be made by properly understanding underlying principles.
Managing People: Coach or a Selector
Most managers tend to be “selectors” who screen and judge subordinates based on outcomes! Becoming a coach is harder but a more effective leadership style
Aftermath of Demonetization in the Aftermarket
According to RBI data, 90% of all transactions in India are made with cash. A little over 80% of this cash became practically useless overnight after Rs1000 and Rs500 currency notes were demonetized on November 8 this year.
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