APICS Certified Supply Chain Professional (CSCP) — Question 416

A manufacturer wants to improve production times by identifying and eliminating bottlenecks in the overall process. This is an example of which continuous improvement philosophy?

Answer options

• A. Six sigma
• B. Total quality management (TQM)
• C. Theory of constraints (TOC)
• D. Lean principles

Correct answer: C

Explanation

The correct answer is C, Theory of Constraints (TOC), which focuses on identifying and addressing bottlenecks to improve overall system performance. While Six Sigma and Total Quality Management (TQM) also aim to improve processes, they do not specifically target bottlenecks as TOC does. Lean principles prioritize waste reduction but may not directly focus on bottlenecks either.