The Goal – Idling Workers and the Balanced Plant
B: have the high efficiencies executive management demands
D: not idle workers
A: keep the plant open
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C: ensure maximum throughput
D': idle workers who do not positively contribute to throughput
In order to keep the plant open I must have the high efficiencies executive management demands and in order to have the high efficiencies executive management demands I must not idle workers. But, in order to keep the plant open I must also ensure maximum throughput and in order to ensure maximum throughput I must idle workers who do not positively contribute to throughput. I can't both not idle workers and idle workers who do not positively contribute to throughput.
| Relation | Assumption(s) | Injection(s) |
| D-D' | There is not another function idle workers can perform that would positively contribute to throughput. | Workers idle in production can be cross-trained in other areas. |
| B-D | Idle resources are not efficient. Inefficient resources are wasteful. Efficiencies indicate how well resources are being utilized. | Idle resources can be less wasteful that non idle resources. Activated resources are more wasteful that utilized resources. |
| C-D' | Non constraint resources that work to maximum efficiency increase inventory. Increased inventory increases operating expenses. | Non constraint resources can be adjusted so that their maximum efficiency matches the minimum requirements of the constrained resource. |
| A-B | Management considers efficiency a key measure of a plant's profitability. Inefficient resources decrease profitability. | Management is unwilling to consider other elements in a plant's performance. |
| A-C | The plant is in danger of closing due to decreased profitability. Increased throughput increases profitability. Higher throughput increases the plant's value to the company. | High throughput does not guarantee high profitability. Throughput is not the only measure of successful business practices. Because the plant represents one function of the company, it's increased value may deter the organization from its objectives (i.e. create specialization in an undesired field). |