In This Issue

Theory of Constraints Applied to Human Resources
Call for Papers
TOC News from Around the World
Joint Executive MBA Program Alliance - Explode the 10 Management Myths practiced today!
TOC World^TM 2001 Countdown
Client Feedback about AGI's new Supply Chain course
Letter from Kathy Suerken

How many times is TOC thought of as logistical solutions: Drum-Buffer-Rope for production, Critical Chain for project management or Replenishment for distribution? It is not often that TOC tools and thinking is expanded to apply to the most important part of any enterprise – the people that work in and operate the system. This is not just any system but a system whose policies and measurements have been changed to reflect a new reality – one of thinking throughput on a system-wide basis instead of cost along a departmental basis.

As a contributor to this issue’s guest editorial, Mr. Jeff Jernigan, VP of Human Resources at Bal Seal Engineering Company enlightens us with his article on how the TOC processes and methodology was applied to human resources. In his article, Mr. Jernigan states that “ The human capacity replenishment cycle was improved 22% and the cost of hiring was reduced 38%. Variation in the process was handled through either a human capacity buffer or intermediate stocking point. True, these terms are more commonly associated with production. However, employees are a resource to be scheduled just as carefully as other manufacturing resources.”

I trust that you will find this article insightful and welcome your feedback. Join us in our next TOC Times Quarterly for September. I will comment on the relationship between TOC, Autopoiesis and the work of Stafford Beer’s, the Vaiable System Model. My thanks to Leonid Ototsky from Russia who posed the question.