Logistics concept
Bottleneck
Find the constraint that determines the performance of the entire flow of goods.
A bottleneck is the link that limits the flow of a process. This can be a machine, but also a check, a missing skill, or a limited number of loading docks. The concept is central to the Theory of Constraints: the performance of the whole is limited by the constraining link.
A queue can be an indication, but does not in itself prove where the bottleneck lies. Investigate the workload, available capacity, and disruptions over a representative period. Then ensure that the constraining step loses no time due to missing materials, unclear instructions, or rework. Align the supply to it to prevent unnecessary congestion.
Targeted improvement of the bottleneck can yield more than speeding up a process step that already has ample capacity. It helps direct investments toward what actually increases total output. The constraint may shift after improvement, which makes repeated assessment necessary.
What is Bottleneck?
A bottleneck is a process step whose effective capacity limits the flow of the entire system.
When do you use it?
Analyze queues, utilization, and output, and focus improvements on the current bottleneck.
What are the benefits?
Higher supply chain output by better utilizing or targetedly expanding the bottleneck capacity.