Operations

The step in a process or organization that limits the overall capacity and slows down the speed of the entire system. It determines maximum system throughput.

A sequence of repeatable steps and actions taken to achieve a specific business outcome. Each step transforms inputs into outputs delivering value.

A detailed, step by step document that explains how to perform a routine business task. It ensures consistency, quality, and compliance across the organization.

A visual representation of the steps, inputs, outputs, and people involved in a business workflow. It identifies decision points and ownership within a process.

The maximum amount of work or output that a business can produce in a given timeframe with its current resources. It sets the ceiling for sustainable output.

The rate at which a system generates its final deliverables or sales over a specific period. It is constrained by the slowest step, the system's bottleneck.

A continuous loop of planning, executing, measuring, and refining used for process improvement. Its steps are Plan, Do, Check, Act, applied continuously.

A Japanese business philosophy of continuous, incremental improvement involving all employees. Small gains compound into major improvements over time.

The physical place where the actual work happens, such as the factory floor or customer service area. It is where value is created, not where it is managed.

The Toyota principle of going to the source to find the facts and make correct decisions. It emphasizes direct observation over relying on second-hand reports.

A systematic workplace organization method that uses five phases to organize and maintain a clean, efficient workspace. It eliminates waste and improves safety.

An iterative interrogative technique used to explore the cause and effect relationships underlying a problem. It strips away symptoms to find the root cause.

The principle that roughly eighty percent of consequences come from twenty percent of the causes. It guides teams to fix the vital few causes before others.

A Japanese term for mistake-proofing any process to prevent human errors before they can occur. It either blocks errors or alerts the user when one occurs.

A metric that measures how effectively a manufacturing or service delivery system is utilized relative to its full potential. Low OEE reveals hidden waste.