During which step of the theory of constraints should other activities be reviewed?

The step in the theory of constraints during which other activities should be reviewed is known as Subordinate. This phase involves aligning all other processes and activities to the needs of the constraint identified in the previous step. The goal is to ensure that no process upstream or downstream of the constraint operates independently or at a pace that would create excess work-in-progress or inefficiencies in the system.

In Subordinate, teams must analyze and modify workflows and resource allocations to support the constraint. This gives an opportunity to harmonize the entire system’s performance with that of the constraint, which is critical for achieving maximum throughput. By focusing on the constraint and reviewing other activities, organizations can prevent non-constraint activities from overproducing, thus avoiding waste and inefficiencies.

The emphasis on this step is essential because it enables a smooth workflow that prioritizes the bottleneck, ensuring it operates at its maximum capacity without being starved of resources or overwhelmed by excess inventory from non-constraints. This concentration ultimately leads to an increase in overall system performance, aligning all processes toward improving throughput in a coherent manner.