In the theory of constraints, the pace of a non-bottleneck operation is controlled by the pace of which operation?

In the theory of constraints, the performance of a production process is heavily influenced by its bottleneck operation, which is the stage that limits the overall capacity of the system. This principle is critical because the bottleneck defines the maximum output of the entire system; thus, it is essential for the non-bottleneck operations to align their pace and throughput with that of the bottleneck.

By controlling the pace of the non-bottleneck operations to match the bottleneck, the entire system can function more optimally. If non-bottleneck operations run faster than the bottleneck, they will create excess inventory and may lead to waste. Conversely, if they operate slower than the bottleneck, potential throughput is lost. Therefore, understanding that the bottleneck operation dictates the flow for the other steps in the process is key to optimizing efficiency and maximizing output in a production environment.