Drum-buffer-rope shop floor control

The drum-buffer-rope (DBR) methodology now being implemented in a growing number of manufacturing organizations enables better scheduling and decision making on the shop floor. It is based on the theory of constraints (TOC) a global managerial methodology that helps the manager to concentrate on the most critical issues. TOC focuses on the system's constraints, their exploitation according to the goal of the organization, and the implications of exploiting these constraints on the rest of the system. This approach is demonstrated with a computerized simulation example which produces a schedule that is feasible and close to optimal.