Applying Theory of Constraints Principles and Lean Thinking at the Marine Corps Maintenance Center (Defense Acquisition Review Journal)

摘要

The Maintenance Center for the Marine Corps Logistics Base, Albany, Georgia, launched a program in 2001 combining principles drawn from the Theory of Constraints and Lean thinking The Center had been constantly plagued by apparent capacity shortages in virtually every department and additional manpower was being considered. An analysis using Theory of Constraints revealed that there was, in fact, more than adequate capacity to handle the workload. The perceived lack of capacity was due to policy constraints imposed on the Center as a result of a push scheduling mechanism. By implementing a pull system for scheduling repairs, the Center revealed capacity that had been masked. Today, the Center is ahead of, or on schedule, for 99 percent of the production lines where the Theory of Constraints principles have been implemented.