What is the drum buffer rope method?

The drum is the constraint. The resource that is limiting your output. Also called the Capacity Constrained Resource (CCR). The buffer is measured in time. It's the amount of work expressed in time (like days worth) prior to the constraint. We control this amount of work with the rope.

What are ropes and drums analogous to in operations management?

The constraint is called a drum because it sets the pace for the operation like a drum sets the pace for solders marching. The rate of output is equal to the output of the constraint. This concept was illustrated in The Goal with boy scouts going on a hike. The slowest hiker, Herbie, set the pace. In The Race (also by Goldratt), it was illustrated with solders marching to the beat of the drum.

What is the rope in Drum Buffer Rope?

The rope is how we control the release of new work. The idea is that if the constraint sets the pace, the drum beat, for the entire operation, then we should only release work at the rate that the constraint can consume it. Rope buffers drum.

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