Step 3: Subordinate Everything Else to the Decisions Made in Step 2
The drummer constraint essentially sets the capacity for the entire plant. All remaining
departments should be subordinated to the needs of the drummer constraint. This principle
requires many companies to change the way they view things. For example, the
use of efficiency measures at the departmental level may no longer be appropriate. Consider
the Schaller Company once again. Encouraging maximum productive efficiency
for the grinding department would produce excess work-in-process inventories. The capacity
of the grinding department is 80 units per week. Assuming the 2-day buffer is
in place, the grinding department would add 20 units per week to the buffer in front
of the drilling department. Over a period of a year, the potential exists for building very
large work-in-process inventories (1,000 units of the two parts would be added to the
buffer over a 50-week period).