Theory of Constraints
TOC
SUMMARY
In today’s marketplace, where products are commoditized and price is no longer a differentiator, inventory turnover becomes a decisive source of competitive advantage. Miguel Abuhab, Founder and Chairman of Neogrid, will share how outdated business rules rooted in past technological constraints continue to limit performance — and how shifting to synchronous, demand-driven practices can unlock higher returns on inventory, reduce out-of-stocks, and improve cash flow across the supply chain.
SPEAKER
Miguel Abuhab is a mechanical engineer, graduated from ITA - Aeronautics Institute of Technology. In 1999, he founded NeoGrid, a provider of Supply Chain Management (SCM) software solutions, which has become a leading provider in Brazil, listed on stock market in December 2020. Currently holds the position of Chairman of the Board.
Since 2003, Abuhab has worked on its Tax Simplification Plan for Brazil - Abuhab Model of VAT Collection - which served as the basis for the Tax Reform Report approved in December. In 2019, he presented his Plan to the CCJ - Constitution, and Justice Commission, which amends the National Tax System. About the subject, he wrote books which addresses tax reform to unlock Brazil and sustain growth and social inclusion.
Abuhab is an advocate of Eliyahu Goldratt’s ideas, incorporates in his business expertise the Theory of Constraints (TOC) and ideas related to the supply chain He also works strongly in social responsibility projects, focused on education. The TOCfE (TOC for Education) program, sponsored by the Miguel Abuhab Institute (IMA), has trained 200 volunteer teachers in 20 public and private schools in Joinville, serving more than 5,000 children.
Summary
Discover how Belgotex, South Africa’s largest carpet manufacturer, transformed its operations with the Theory of Constraints (TOC). Hear from Belgotex’s senior leadership and Goldratt UK how TOC was applied in production and procurement to overcome availability challenges, improve on-time, in-full delivery, and reduce excess inventory. By aligning their vision with TOC principles, Belgotex not only boosted customer and employee satisfaction but also achieved a remarkable 293.5% increase in profitability within just one year. In this session, attendees will gain practical insights into applying TOC to production and procurement challenges whilst learning lessons from Belgotex’s journey that can be applied across manufacturing environments.
Speaker Bio
Kevin is an accomplished manufacturing and operations leader with over three decades of experience in the textile industry. As Chief Operations Officer at Belgotex, he oversees supply chain, production, engineering, and sustainability initiatives - driving strategic transformation and operational excellence across the business.
Since joining Belgotex in 1988, Kevin has led major capital projects up to R60 million, introduced sustainable manufacturing practices, and implemented advanced ERP and production monitoring systems.
Kevin holds a BTech in Management from Durban University of Technology and additional qualifications in operations management and textile technology. A strong advocate of continuous improvement, he regularly participates in international trade forums to stay at the forefront of industry innovation. His leadership reflects a commitment to operational excellence, sustainability, and future-focused manufacturing in South Africa’s competitive flooring sector.
In recent years, Kevin has been instrumental in embedding the Theory of Constraints at Belgotex - delivering tangible gains in capacity, throughput, and overall profitability while reshaping the company's approach to systemic performance improvement.
Presentation Summary
Despite decades of proven results across industries, the Theory of Constraints (TOC) remains far from mainstream. This session explores the paradox: why TOC is so difficult to “sell” to decision-makers and why many implementations stall, even within organizations that initiate them. The discussion will examine commonly cited barriers along with a less-discussed but critical factor—TOC’s own uniqueness—and how that may inadvertently limit its adoption. Structured around three key phases—consideration, acceptance, and persistence—this session offers a clear view of the obstacles and a practical way forward to support faster, broader, and more sustainable TOC growth.
Speaker Bio
Humberto R. Baptista is a strategic thinker, innovator, and synergist, serving as CEO of Vectis Solutions. A recipient of the TOCICO Lifetime Achievement Award (2019), he has spent decades shaping how organizations think, decide, and perform. Humberto has served as a strategic advisor to Neogrid, a member of the TOCICO Board of Directors, and a senior figure in the Goldratt Group. He has led major Viable Vision transformations across sectors—from consumer goods and retail to manufacturing, services, and large-scale projects—delivering tangible, systemic breakthroughs. As a global educator, he has trained hundreds of TOC Viable Vision Application Experts and Project Leaders. Humberto is the creator of the Comprehensive Management methodology, designed to connect local actions with global consequences in real-world business systems. His current focus includes Comprehensive Management, TOC principles, S&T-based implementations, advanced TOC finance, and applying TOC to complex domains such as retail, government, healthcare, and education.
The ONE THING Focusing Cycle to achieve Hyper‑FOCUS :
How to combine TOC’s 5 Focusing Steps and the Cloud to find and maintain focus on the next ONE thing.
Presentation Summary
TOC offers a bold promise to leadership teams: it will help them FOCUS on what matters most. It tells us to focus on the Constraint. But real-world systems are messy—there are many goals, many constraints, many problems, many conflicts, and many possible solutions. So how do we find and focus on the next ONE Thing?
This session introduces the ONE THING Focusing Cycle, a simple yet powerful way to cut through complexity. By combining Dr. Goldratt’s 5 Focusing Steps with his ProConCloud method, this step-by-step method helps teams and individuals identify and resolve the next 1 Goal, 1 Constraint, 1 Problem, 1 Conflict, 1 Innovation, and 1 Experiment to focus on.
If you’re ready to move faster with more clarity and less overwhelm, this session is your next best step.
Speaker Bio
Dr. Alan Barnard is a leading decision scientist and Theory of Constraints (TOC) expert with almost 20 years of experience working directly with Dr. Eli Goldratt, the creator of TOC. As the CEO of Goldratt Research Labs (USA), Alan focuses on using advanced technologies and decision sciences to develop Apps and Decision Support methods, enabling organizations to achieve more with less time. Under his leadership, Goldratt Research Labs has collaborated on innovation and research projects with renowned Fortune 500 companies like Microsoft, Cargill, BHP, Tata Steel, Amazon, and others, along with public sector organizations like Utah Governor's Office and UN WFP. Alan has held prominent roles in various organizations, including past-President of the South African Supply Chain Society SAPICS and past-President of TOCICO. His significant contributions have been recognized through prestigious awards, including inclusion in the 2020 Marquis Who's Who Global Listing, membership in the Forbes Technology Council, and the TOCICO Lifetime Achievement Award. He is an accomplished author and frequent presenter on Decision Making in a Complex World and Theory of Constraints at international conferences. Alan's latest book,
Speaker Bio:
Kristen Cox is a visionary leader, author, and expert in systems thinking and constraints management, specializing in helping governments and nonprofits cut through complexity and achieve breakthrough results. Best known for orchestrating a 35% measurable improvement in the State of Utah’s $20 billion executive branch, Kristen has a proven track record of transforming large-scale operations by focusing on what truly matters.
As the Founder & CEO of Epiphany Associates, LLC, Kristen brings her expertise to organizations worldwide, guiding leaders to eliminate inefficiencies, maximize impact, and drive sustainable change. She has served as an Executive Director, university instructor, Senior Fellow, advisory board member, keynote speaker, trainer, and consultant. She co-founded The Fulcrum and created Utah’s SUCCESS Framework and the Quality Throughput over Operating Expense (QT/OE) metric, both of which have been widely recognized for driving government effectiveness.
Kristen is also the co-author of Stop Decorating the Fish, a powerful business fable that exposes ineffective problem-solving strategies often used in government and business. The book, co-written with TOC expert Yishai Ashlag, helps leaders recognize and avoid misleading solutions that create the illusion of progress but fail to address core issues.
Beyond her professional expertise, Kristen’s personal journey as a blind leader adds depth to her work. She weaves together inspirational lessons on resilience, innovation, and clarity of thought, helping others develop the discipline to focus on real solutions that drive meaningful impact.
Presentation Summary
This workshop is for anyone new to the Theory of Constraints Thinking Processes. This is an area of TOC that sometimes misses the limelight of DBR and CCPM; however, it can be considered both more broad-reaching and more important for organizations and individuals.
There are three key areas the workshop will cover:
Learners will be given an introduction and overview of the Thinking Process toolset, providing context for all the various tools and their purpose—leaving with a map of how the tools fit together and what the purpose of each tool is.
The why of the Thinking Processes. We all know how to think already, right? So why are these tools so important to learn and apply effectively?
Learning the fundamental logic structures by applying them to real-world situations—leaving with the skills to use the basics in everyday life and enough understanding to build on these skills by learning more of the TP toolset.
Speaker Bio
Peter is the head instructor of the Black Belt in Thinking (Thinking Process training course). Even after a decade of teaching others how to use these critical thinking tools, he is still endlessly fascinated by the innovative ways people think and learn. Whether they are leaders, business owners, entrepreneurs, or individuals, Peter’s passion is seeing—and helping—people create real solutions to what they thought were “unbreakable” problems.
Presentation Summary
This session explores how AI agents dramatically accelerate the TOC Thinking Processes, demonstrating their use in refining verbalization, root cause analysis, and solution guidance. It also highlights the critical need for expertise to efficiently manage AI task consumption ("tokenization") and avoid unnecessary costs, marking the shift to AI-driven Service-as-Software.
Speaker Bio
Gilsiley Henrique Darú provides supply chain consulting and optimization for major companies such as HAVAN (Retail – Supply Chain), HVLE (Railway Optimization in Germany), and Malwee (Fashion – Production Planning). He leads the AI and Supply Chain Innovation Lab at Neogrid Software, a leader in supply chain integration.
With over 20 years of experience at firms including Datasul, WEG, and Malwee, he applies artificial intelligence and innovative solutions to transform corporate environments. At Neogrid, Gilsiley leads a team creating cutting-edge supply chain management solutions, leveraging his expertise in data analysis and AI to turn data into valuable insights and enhance client operational efficiency.
A Ph.D. candidate in Computational Mathematics (UFPR) and holding master’s degrees in Data Science (USP) and Numerical Methods (UFPR), Gilsiley also holds degrees in Mechanical Engineering and Data Processing (UDESC), along with postgraduate qualifications in Data Science (SENAI) and Software Engineering (PUC-PR).
An enthusiast of the Theory of Constraints and optimization in industrial planning, he helps companies find focus and improve flow using TOC Thinking Processes alongside optimization tools such as Operations Research, Discrete and Continuous Simulation, and Agent-Based Modeling, with strong expertise in logistics and business planning.
Academically, he shares his knowledge as a postgraduate professor in AI and Deep Learning. Gilsiley values collaboration and the continuous development of advanced analytical skills in all his initiatives.
Presentation Summary
A compelling case study from Comstock Inc., revealing how a holistic, systemic application of Theory of Constraints and the Theory of Profound Knowledge transformed its strategic planning, execution, and organizational development into a repeatable engine of globally impactful innovation. CEO Corrado DeGasperis explores how alignment, empathy, reliability and constraint-based management systems enable transformative results.
Speaker Bio
Corrado De Gasperis is Executive Chairman of both Comstock Inc. and Bioleum Corporation, both leaders in the innovation and global systems deployment of clean energy transition solutions. With nearly 30 years of C-suite leadership in industrial-scale materials and advanced manufacturing, he has guided Comstock in the development of two breakthrough, commercial ready technologies operating at or near TRL 7: an organosolv-based process that more than doubles known, practical renewable fuel yields from waste and purpose grown woody biomass feedstocks and a certified, zero landfill solar panel recycling system, that reuses 100% of the recovered materials, including aluminum, glass, and silver-rich tailings.
A champion of systemic thinking, De Gasperis integrates Theory of Constraints methodologies that drive innovation and commercialization. At GrafTech International, he was part of a leadership team that generated hundreds of patents and five consecutive R&D 100 awards, including next generation thermal spreaders for advanced electronics and graphite electrodes that resolved the costly down times in electric arc steel recycling. Mr. De Gasperis also founded Comstock’s Odyssey Leadership Program, which has trained over 60 emerging professionals in systemic strategic planning, execution, conflict resolution and critical chain project management.
An experienced speaker, De Gasperis delivered the TEDx Talk “Capitalism Lost: The Systemic Road to Discovery” and frequently engages audiences—from executives to politicians to community leaders to students—on integrating sustainability, innovation, and systemic management into their enterprises. Comstock’s systemic approach has led to integrated alliances with companies, laboratories, and universities, including Hexas Biomass Inc., RenFuel K2B AB, Marathon Petroleum Inc., the National Renewable Energy Lab (“NREL”) and MIT, all systemically advancing clean technologies for ultimate scaling.
Presentation Summary
This session will describe the factors causing the 38-year-old problem of ED overcrowding to persist. TOC is the solution to the problem, as it finds the constraint—which, in hospitals and emergency departments, is a staffed bed. This presentation will show how using buffer management can help alert staff and management when to focus on constraint management and find hidden opportunities to exploit the constraint.
Topics covered will include:
- Understanding how measuring, monitoring, and alerting when buffers are increasing can help manage downstream constraints
- How to use live data to drive prescriptive actions
- How fun and easy TOC is
Speaker Bio
Dr. Dreyer is a board-certified Emergency Physician residing in Columbus, Ohio. For more than 20 years, Dr. Dreyer practiced at two high volume ERs and was director of ER quality. In 2003, Dr. Dreyer pivoted roles to facilitate quality initiatives at all 5 Mount Carmel Emergency Departments. Dr. Dreyer believes that patient health is directly correlated to the health of the operational system that delivers care. He is Six Sigma and Lean certified, is a Certified Professional in Healthcare Quality and the graduate of the Physician Executive MBA Program (PEMBA) at the University of Tennessee. As a Healthcare Optimization Professional, Dr. Dreyer has been transforming Emergency Department operations since 2001. As a result of his leadership, ED’s have annually realized millions to their bottom line. In 2015, he formed The Dreyer Group, a healthcare services and software company that employs proprietary systems, processes, tools, and software, designed to improve hospital operations to deliver best in class quality, satisfaction, and revenue. Dr. Dreyer formed CarePulse, a patented software analytics platform.
Session Details
Explore how TOC principles streamline production, eliminate bottlenecks, and increase throughput—enabling consistent, reliable operations.
Speaker Bio
Dr. Lisa Ferguson's goal in life is to illuminate the way to utopia for individuals, organizations, and the rest of society. Our strategies and tactics are based on using the Theory of Constraints (TOC), combined with other best practices to dramatically improve strategic planning and execution, retail, education, healthcare and the health/happiness/success of individuals with a holistic approach. TOC was founded by Dr. Eli Goldratt to achieve his goal in life of teaching the world to think. For a decade, Dr. Ferguson was a full-time professor of operations management before resigning to teach for The Goldratt Group full-time training consultants (both TOC experts and Supply Chain Logistics implementers). Next, Dr. Lisa Ferguson spent a year (2007 – 2008) working as the apprentice to best-selling author and business guru, Eliyahu M. Goldratt as he trained her to become an even more successful writer and speaker, while further developing her TOC expertise. Her service on the TOCICO Board of Directors in an elected, unpaid position is from 2008 – 2011 and 2020 – 2021. Professor Ferguson is the author of the chapter on Strategy and Tactic Trees in The Theory of Constraints Handbook. Dr. Ferguson began teaching online classes for Illuminutopia in 2010. She is a published author (as well as an editor) and consultant with experience guiding Fortune 100 companies down through small businesses.
Presentation Summary
This session presents a solution that combines AI-enhanced Theory of Constraints and System Dynamics modeling for organizations seeking deeper system understanding and aiming to overcome complex, persistent problems in healthcare.
This session will highlight:
Strengths and limitations of AI for enhancing systems thinking
How TOC and System Dynamics offer complementary system understanding
A deeper understanding of how PTSD is shaped by personal, social, and system-level variables
The impact of visual models on social construction
Speaker Bio
Don Greer is a methodologist and facilitator focused on enhancing organizational performance by addressing challenges within sociotechnical systems. He applies systems thinking and dynamic modeling to diagnose root causes and design interventions, as demonstrated in his work on U.S. Air Force program disconnects and developing a buffalo herd management model that illuminated complex interdependencies. His expertise lies in translating these insights into actionable strategies, facilitating collaboration, and guiding organizations through the implementation of robust solutions to achieve breakthrough results.
Session Details
This session will introduce Goldratt UK's Rules of Flow for MRO (Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul)—a recent advancement in their implementation approach. Inspired by Efrat Goldratt-Ashlag’s book Goldratt’s Rules of Flow, the Goldratt UK team has developed a practical 10-step framework specifically tailored for the MRO environment. After extensive field testing and refinement, they are now sharing this framework with the Theory of Constraints (TOC) community.
Ian will present real-world client examples to illustrate the framework’s impact and effectiveness in practice.
Attendees will gain:
>A clear understanding of Goldratt UK's Rules of Flow for MRO and its foundation in TOC principles
>Practical case examples demonstrating its application
>A 10-step framework ready to apply or adapt within their own MRO environments
Speaker Bio
Ian Gillott is Chief Operating Officer at Goldratt UK, where he leads day-to-day operations and drives strategic growth across the organisation. Since joining in 2024, Ian has been at the forefront of shaping Goldratt UK's next chapter - bringing bold ideas, operational discipline, and a passion for delivering real results.
With over 20 years of leadership experience across the Rail, Automotive,
Construction, and Bus sectors – and a track record spanning four countries - Ian is no stranger to complex challenges. Before joining Goldratt UK, he held senior roles within the Bamford group, including JCB, Wrightbus, and AllServiceOne. At Wrightbus, he played a key role in the company’s turnaround and built its aftermarket business from the ground up.
An engineer by background, Ian engineer by background and a change leader by nature, Ian brings expertise in Lean, Kaizen, Six Sigma, and Theory of Constraints – combined with a relentless focus on execution.
Every industry, or even company in an industry, creates value in its unique way. But the patterns of inefficiency are the same across industries. Yes, they are. And so are the solutions to break those patterns.
Drawing upon 35 years of experience across a wide range of industries—hospitals; mining; manufacturing; maintenance, repair & overhaul; construction; high tech; and even back-office operations—Sanjeev will describe what those patterns are. He will also share how those patterns arise from very few common causes, and how to break them.
Summary
Maintenance, Repair & Overhaul (MRO) blends Operations and Project Management with its own unique challenges, Goldratt UK developed the Rules of Flow for MRO to successfully implement TOC in MRO environments. Learn how Embraer – the world’s third largest commercial jet manufacturer - implemented these Rules of Flow to improve the turnaround time of aircraft brought in for maintenance, increase delivery performance, and boost profitability. Attendees will learn more about the inherent challenges and complexities of MRO environments and how TOC can be applied to overcome them, reducing firefighting and improving flow and capacity. Understand what’s next for Embraer as they strive to rolling out the Rules of Flow for MRO across further sites and functions.
Speaker Bio
Anthony Hendricks is a Lean Specialist at Embraer Aerospace Company, where he serves as a liaison between corporate leadership and operational teams to ensure alignment with Continuous Improvement objectives and methodologies. In his role, Anthony leads Kaizen workshops to drive systemic process enhancements and oversees a team of continuous improvement agents focused on identifying and implementing efficiency-driven solutions across the organization.
Anthony holds a Master’s degree in Organizational Leadership, which complements his practical experience with a strong foundation in strategic thinking, team development, and change management.
Prior to joining Embraer, he served as a Senior Manager of Operations at Amazon, where he led high-impact projects with regional scope, managed supply chain planning using S&OP data, and directed a team of over 250 associates. His leadership contributed to the successful dispatch of over 12.5 million packages annually, representing $435 million in revenue.
With a 30-year career spanning both aerospace and e-commerce logistics, Anthony brings a unique blend of strategic insight and hands-on leadership. His expertise lies in bridging the gap between theory and execution, making him a valuable contributor to discussions on operational excellence, Lean methodologies, and the Theory of Constraints.
Summary
Do project management scholars understand critical chain and its potential to improve project performance? This session suggests they don’t, and will make the case that this matters.
Ian will share his analysis of nearly 600 academic papers on Critical Chain that were found in databases of academic articles. He will facilitate a discussion amongst attendees about his analysis so far, whether it matters, and what else might be worth looking into in the future.
He will contrast the academic perspective of CC with practitioner experience shared through TOCICO and other media.
Speaker Bio
Ian is an Associate Professor of Project Management at the University of Birmingham (UK).
He is a late-career academic, having joined the University after 35 years of experience in project management, procurement, and management consulting.
His project and procurement experience is primarily in the capex, construction, and engineering fields.
He has been a regular TOCICO Conference attendee since 2011, and in 2020, he helped establish the annual Critical Chain virtual conference to share real-world Critical Chain experience with project management practitioners who have little or no knowledge of TOC or Critical Chain.
In 2016, he published The Executive Guide to Breakthrough Project Management, co-authored with Robert Bolton, focused on overcoming obstacles to using Critical Chain on capital and construction projects. He also supported Rene Nibbelke in producing the APM’s Senior Managers’ and Project Managers’ Guide to Critical Chain (2024).
Presentation Summary Patient falls continue to pose persistent and costly challenges to healthcare systems worldwide, contributing to adverse patient outcomes, prolonged hospital stays, and increased resource use. Despite decades of effort, the frequency of falls highlights the need for a more focused and systemic approach. This study applies Constraints Management and High Reliability Organization (HRO) principles to reduce inpatient falls in collaboration with the Ministry of Health of Türkiye at Ankara Etlik City Hospital—a state-of-the-art facility with over 4,050 beds. Using the Theory of Constraints (TOC) Five Focusing Steps, the team identified key system constraints and implemented targeted interventions. In this pilot study, three-month control period following implementation showed measurable reductions in falls and related harm. Nevertheless, sustaining and scaling these improvements has proven to be challenging, largely due to factors such as heterogeneous patient risk profiles, fluctuating staff practices, inconsistent data quality, and the operational complexity inherent to
large hospital systems. To address ongoing challenges with sustaining and replicating improvements, the Cynefin Framework is being considered to guide decision-making that reflects the varying levels of complexity in fall-related scenarios. The Cynefin framework distinguishes ordered from unordered domains; in complex and chaotic contexts, patterns must be sensed, and solutions emerge through experimentation. This differentiation supports more effective governance by aligning interventions with the nature of the situation—avoiding over-standardization in complex domains and enabling rapid response in chaotic ones. Concurrently, the initiative reinforces the core principles of High Reliability Organization (HRO), particularly preoccupation with failure, sensitivity to frontline operations, and commitment to resilience. Teams were encouraged to anticipate failure modes, respond to weak signals, an engage subject matter experts closest to the work to shape realistic, sustainable solutions. These behaviors were essential I reducing variation in fall prevention practices across departments and shifts. However, sustaining gains requires more than behavioral discipline. It depends on robust data quality and sufficiency—including timely, narrative-rich, and context-aware reporting that goes beyond binary metrics. Data sufficiency also includes the presence of both leading and lagging indicators that can inform learning from both success and failure. By combining Constraints Management, HRO behaviors, and Cynefin’s situational awareness lens, this integrated approach offers a practical, adaptive model for improving patient safety and operational reliability in dynamic healthcare environments, while building the foundations for long-term learning and system-level resilience.
Speaker Bio
Dr. Baha Inozu is the cofounder and CEO of Sharp Focus, Inc., and a faculty member at the University of Southern California. He has collaborated with more than forty organizations to improve performance and reliability across a range of sectors. Internationally recognized for his expertise in system reliability and performance improvement, Dr. Inozu specializes in integrating leading methodologies to achieve high-impact outcomes. He currently supports the SafeMTS project as a Subject Matter Expert and contributes to the Shipyard Infrastructure Optimization Program (SIOP) for the U.S. Navy.
His research centers on identifying and applying best practices from high-risk industries to advance safety and reliability. He is the co-author of High Reliability for a Highly Unreliable World. Previously, he served as CEO of NOVACES and as Chairman of the School of Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering at the University of New Orleans.
Governing for Quality of Life: Resolving Chronic Conflicts through TOC Thinking
<b>SUMMARY</b>
Assuming that the general goal of government is increasing the quality of life—now and in the future, this presentation examines the persistent constraints that prevent governments from reliably achieving that aim. Governments operate in a complex and demanding environment shaped by limited resources, volatility, uncertainty, competing priorities, and deep ideological divides. These persistent constraints—distinct from day-to-day obstacles—are recurring sources of systemic tension that must be identified, categorized, and addressed if meaningful progress is to be made. The analysis is built on the shoulders of government thought leaders applying the Theory of Constraints (TOC) to public systems, including Kristen Cox (Results Management in government operations), Alan Barnard (Strategy and decision science), and Rami Goldratt (TOC implementation in national systems). Using TOC thinking tools—especially the Evaporating Cloud and the concept of oscillating conflicts—we will surface the most impactful and recurring constraints that governments face across the tactical (service), operational (agency), and strategic (political) levels. We use conflict categories and also look at budget conflicts and how they can be resolved. We will then focus on one or two of these chronic conflicts for deeper examination, analyzing their underlying assumptions and proposing potential injections to dissolve them. In the spirit of John Dewey’s insight that “a problem well-defined is half-solved,” this session aims to strengthen the conceptual foundation for applying TOC to governance—clarifying constraints that obstruct progress and creating a path toward greater societal well-being through deliberate and measurable improvement.
<b>SPEAKER</b>
Recognized in Australia as a leading TOC Practitioner, Andrew is the founder of an independent boutique TOC consulting firm TOC3 Pty Limited based in Sydney, serving the Asia Pacific.
With a TOC career spanning nearly 20 years, Andrew has delivered and helped deliver over 85 successful TOC implementations across a multitude of industry sectors in Australia, New Zealand, Singapore, Indonesia, Japan and the USA. Andrew brings a depth of TOC knowledge and implementation experience in guiding organizations to systematically and rapidly achieve their goals Andrew is proficient in all TOC application solution areas including the Logical Thinking Process Tools. He specializes in rapid and visual implementation methods.
Andrew partners with world-class practitioners and is actively engaged in the International TOC Community. He has commenced sharing his experiences and insights through several case studies at TOCICO and other international TOC Conferences.
Andrew is also the Director of TOC for Education Australia working to introduce the TOCFE thinking tools to schools and communities and wishes he could do more.
Andrew is passionate about TOC and what it can deliver to the world.
Before his TOC career, Andrew served as a scientific-systems based professional in strategic planning for Sydney City and the Blue Mountains Region. A pioneer in Integrated Local Government Geographic Information Systems, Andrew held senior management roles in Government Corporate Strategy and Business Planning and later for 5 years, in the private sector with Business Improvement Consulting with clients such as The Sydney Opera House, Phillips, Canberra Hospital, A V Jennings, and Perrigrin Semi-Conductor. In between he helped establish and run Australia's first micro-finance operation based on the Nobel Prize-winning Grameen Bank of Bangladesh.
Andrew holds a BSc Hons in Applied Science (dual major/Magna Cum Laude) from the University NSW, a post-graduate MBA from Macquarie University, and he is certified by TOCICO, and is a qualified Jonah+ and CCPM IC3PM instructor.
SUMMARY
It started with a Google search: “What’s a Goldratt?” What followed transformed not just project delivery—but an entire company.
In this fast-paced, story-driven talk, Val King shares how discovering the Theory of Constraints turned chaos into clarity. After years stuck at 70% on-time delivery (even with Agile and Scrum), his team reached 94% using Critical Chain—and from that success came a bigger realization: the same thinking could fix everything else.
This is a talk about seeing what others miss. Whether you lead a law firm, hospital, IT shop, or small manufacturing business, you’ll learn how to find your real constraint, protect it, and turn work into flow. Along the way, you’ll hear how a Google search, a war room of sticky notes, and one clarified constraint helped change not just project delivery—but the entire culture of a company.
You’ll leave with one action you can take Monday—and a radically different way of seeing how work really gets done.
SPEAKER BIO
VAL KING , CEO of Whitehat Virtual Technologies and Ascent-Portal.com.
Whitehat Virtual Technologies is a nationally ranked top 100 technology services provider serving clients in North America, Europe, and Asia Pacific, specializing in security, compliance, desktop virtualization, cloud, hosting, and managed IT services. The Ascent Security Compliance Portal is a secure, real-time, collaborative web-based platform helping SMB organizations manage their Governance, Risk, and Compliance risk across 50+ frameworks of controls, including HIPAA, HITECH, NIST, ISO 27001, etc. Modules include: Assessment & Compliance, Governance, Risk Assessments, Business Continuity, Cybersecurity, Vendor Management, Audit Management, Security, Training, and Reporting. As CEO of Whitehat Virtual Technologies, founded in 2012, and Ascent Portal, founded in 2015, Val is responsible for day-to-day operations and leading product development and Technology strategy.
Val consults with client leadership teams outside of day-to-day operations to help them understand and manage IT from the C-Suite, secure their organizations, and extract maximum value from their IT investment.
Val embraces an unconventional approach towards IT Operations, prioritizing user experience over infrastructural excellence as the key IT operations benchmark. In today's fractured cybersecurity landscape, Val stands apart, advocating for collective action over solitary pursuits. Val states that isolated investments in security by individual companies are not sufficient to ward off advanced, organized cybercrime organizations. Val lives in Austin, Texas, with his wife, and father of two daughters.
Val King has 25 years of experience in technology, compliance, and security, all in regulated industries, particularly in financial services and healthcare. Val has served as the Virtual Chief Information Technology Officer for both a Regional Bank (2017-2023) and a Regional Hospital System (2014-2019). Val King's reputation extends beyond his business accolades. As a speaker, his insights, distilled from years of firsthand experience, offer a unique window into the opportunities and trials of the digital age. His engagements span numerous conferences and workshops, providing audiences with actionable knowledge and an enriched understanding of IT and security's evolving landscape.
Val frequently speaks on topics including:
Establishing Functional Hybrid/Work-from-Home Strategies
Managing Cybersecurity Risk & Building Resilient Cybersecurity Programs
C-Suite Oversight and Responsibility with Cybersecurity
Simplifying IT Management for the C-Suite
Presentation Summary
This session presents research focused on making the TOC Thinking Processes (TP) accessible to everyone through generative AI. Building on last year’s prototype—which used Retrieval-Augmented Generation (RAG) and prompt chaining to help non-experts quickly create UDEs and CRTs—three major enhancements were introduced this year: a dialogue-based interface for sequential question-answer interaction, an AI agent that incorporates industry-specific knowledge, and a system reconstruction as a GPT app for broader deployment. These upgrades further reduce the entry barrier to TP and support faster, more inclusive problem-solving.
Attendees will:
Learn how to use generative AI agents to construct UDEs and CRTs
Apply RAG-based techniques to support root-cause analysis
Explore interactive dialogue systems to guide non-experts through TP
Gain insight into integrating AI tools into organizational problem-solving frameworks
Speaker Bio
Takashi is the co-founder and CEO of Progressive Flow Japan Ltd. with Yaniv Dinur, the former chairman of TOCICO.
As one of only a few TOCICO certified practitioners in Japan, Takashi is known as one of Japan's leading TOC consultants. For over 17 years, he has been involved in industries and management fields such as shipbuilding, semiconductors, construction, construction machinery, IT, games, electricity, glass, housing, and R&D etc. He has led numerous consulting projects across a wide range of fields.
Before becoming a TOC consultant, he utilized EQ, also known as Emotional Intelligence. He was also part of an OD/HR consulting firm, where he provided deep insight into organizational development, cultural change, and talent development.
He believes there is no conflict between improving corporate performance and the growth and well-being of individual employees.
TOCICO Certified Practitioner
TOCICO Registered Jonah
TOCPA Japan Faculty
Presentation Summary
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is significantly underdiagnosed, with an estimated 14% prevalence in the general population but only 2% captured in medical claims. This session presents an interdisciplinary research effort that integrates Theory of Constraints (TOC) and System Dynamics (SD), enhanced by artificial intelligence, to model and address the systemic barriers contributing to this gap.
Through the development of Current and Future Reality Trees and an AI-supported system dynamics model, the team explored both structural and individual-level challenges—revealing unintended consequences and identifying scalable interventions. The presentation will highlight how visual model socialization supported stakeholder alignment and how combining TOC, SD, and AI provides a replicable approach to tackling complex healthcare issues.
Key takeaways include:
Strengths and limitations of AI in systems thinking
Complementary insights from TOC and System Dynamics
How interacting personal, social, and health system factors impact PTSD
The role of visual models in building shared understanding
Speaker Bio
Christophe G. Lambert, Ph.D., is a Professor of Medicine and Division Chief of Translational Informatics at the University of New Mexico. He is also the founder, past CEO and current Chairman of Golden Helix, a Bozeman-based bioinformatics company. Throughout his career, he has applied systems thinking to the challenging problems affecting life sciences and healthcare research, with numerous articles and presentations diagnosing systemic problems and prescribing the change management required for improvement. As a lifetime TOCICO member, certified in the Theory of Constraints (TOC) Fundamentals (2004) and Thinking Processes (2006), he applied TOC within his own company for a decade, and currently applies it to problems in mental and organizational health. Originally from Canada, Dr. Lambert received his bachelor’s degree from Montana State University, and a PhD in computer science from Duke University.
Summary
The global logistics industry is $11 Trillion, approximately 10% of global GDP, beset with macro challenges and operating with extensive local optima. WiseTech is developing global industry solutions to meet these challenges – these are problems worth solving.
Speaker Bio:
Ian joined WiseTech Global in mid-2018, initially as GM Global Software Operations managing the software engineering and product development functions, later taking responsibility for delivery and productivity across the group. Prior to joining WiseTech Ian has worked for both large and small industrials across mining, utilities and manufacturing in a 35 year career delivering technology solutions . Ian holds a Bachelor of Management Studies, Majoring in Computer Science, from the University of Waikato (NZ)
AI: The Future of Thinking
SUMMARY
Wolf McNally has spent four decades turning audacious ideas into software that reshapes how people think. As the creator of Flying Logic, he made the visual language of the Theory of Constraints accessible to strategists from Fortune 500 firms to solo consultants. He also leads research at Blockchain Commons, developing open-source protocols for digital autonomy.
In this session Wolf traces Flying Logic’s evolution as a decision accelerator, then confronts the elephant on every strategic planner’s whiteboard: artificial intelligence. He compares the way large models reason with the way humans think, exposes the cognitive terrain AI cannot cross, and shows how TOC practitioners can ride the wave instead of becoming the constraint. He closes with a glimpse into his research for next-generation AI-integrated TOC tools.
SPEAKER BIO
Wolf McNally began his career at the dawn of the 8-bit era in Silicon Valley, writing games like Sega’s Star Trek and Activision’s Ghostbusters, and has been creating visual, intuitive tools ever since. His career has spanned a wide range of inventive projects at the intersection of technology and creativity—from co-founding the early game studio The Dreamers Guild, to helping launch the award-winning construction toy company PixelBlocks. He’s worked on color-shifting lighting for concept cars, large-format touchscreens, and early gestural interface systems - contributing code that made its way into the technology behind Minority Report. Wolf wrote eHarmony’s first iPhone app, and contributed fictional UI designs used for the whiteboards on an episode of The Big Bang Theory.
For nearly a decade, Wolf has served as Lead Researcher at the nonprofit Blockchain Commons, where he’s invented open standards such as LifeHash, Deterministic CBOR (dCBOR), and Gordian Envelope, all focused on strengthening digital sovereignty. His work with the Theory of Constraints began years before Northrop Grumman brought him in to build a visual tool for Course of Action (COA) analysis—a project that evolved into Flying Logic, now widely used by TOC practitioners around the world.
Across all his work runs a consistent thread: thoughtful, well-crafted systems that support better thinking and decision-making. Wolf’s goal is to help people move past what they’ve been taught to think—and develop mastery of how to think.
Session Details
Maintenance, Repair & Overhaul (MRO) blends Operations and Project Management with its own unique challenges, Goldratt UK developed the Rules of Flow for MRO to successfully implement TOC in MRO environments. Learn how Embraer – the world’s third largest commercial jet manufacturer - implemented these Rules of Flow to improve the turnaround time of aircraft brought in for maintenance, increase delivery performance, and boost profitability. Attendees will learn more about the inherent challenges and complexities of MRO environments and how TOC can be applied to overcome them, reducing firefighting and improving flow and capacity. Understand what’s next for Embraer as they strive to rolling out the Rules of Flow for MRO across further sites and functions.
Speaker Bio
As a consultant with Goldratt UK, Paul helps organisations implement Theory of Constraints (TOC) and Critical Chain Project Management (CCPM) to achieve breakthrough results. Since joining in 2022, he has worked with numerous clients across the UK and US, particularly in MRO environments, reducing turnaround times and delivering projects on time, to scope, and within budget.
Paul brings over three decades of leadership experience across engineering, supply chain logistics, and manufacturing. His career includes 20 years as an Engineering Manager, five years as a Continuous Improvement Manager for a global manufacturer - here he first championed TOC - and senior executive roles in the Middle East. As General Manager for a global shipping company and later CEO of a 3PL organisation, he applied TOC to drive significant capacity increases, revenue growth, and operational excellence.
Paul is passionate about using TOC to unlock business performance and sustainable growth.
Presentation Summary
Assuming that the general goal of government is to improve quality of life—now and in the future—this session examines the persistent constraints that prevent governments from reliably achieving that aim. Operating in environments shaped by limited resources, volatility, uncertainty, competing priorities, and ideological divides, governments face systemic tensions that go beyond day-to-day challenges.
Drawing on the work of government thought leaders who have applied the Theory of Constraints (TOC) to public systems—Kristen Cox, Alan Barnard, and Rami Goldratt—this session uses TOC tools, especially the Evaporating Cloud and the concept of oscillating conflicts, to surface recurring constraints across tactical (service), operational (agency), and strategic (political) levels. Conflict categories, including budget-related tensions, will be explored with a focus on identifying underlying assumptions and proposing injections to dissolve them.
By examining one or two chronic conflicts in depth, this session aims to strengthen the conceptual foundation for applying TOC to governance, clarify systemic constraints, and contribute to a path of deliberate and measurable societal improvement.
Speaker Bio
Alfredo is the Co-Founder of ReEngine Consulting and a PhD candidate at George Washington University in Washington, DC. He has been a military commander, diplomat, and assistant professor of history at West Point Military Academy. He has held positions at the federal, state, and city level as a public executive and an improvement expert. He has worked to improve procurement and contract management at all those levels of government and in universities.
Presentation Summary
This session presents research focused on making the TOC Thinking Processes (TP) accessible to everyone through generative AI. Building on last year’s prototype—which used Retrieval-Augmented Generation (RAG) and prompt chaining to help non-experts quickly create UDEs and CRTs—three major enhancements were introduced this year: a dialogue-based interface for sequential question-answer interaction, an AI agent that incorporates industry-specific knowledge, and a system reconstruction as a GPT app for broader deployment. These upgrades further reduce the entry barrier to TP and support faster, more inclusive problem-solving.
Attendees will:
Learn how to use generative AI agents to construct UDEs and CRTs
Apply RAG-based techniques to support root-cause analysis
Explore interactive dialogue systems to guide non-experts through TP
Gain insight into integrating AI tools into organizational problem-solving frameworks.
Speaker Bio
Hirotsugu Nakai is the Project Director at Progressive Flow Japan Ltd., where he leads strategic initiatives in business process design, new business development, and production system optimization. After completing his graduate studies, he began his career at a major patent law firm and later joined a company operating a restaurant search and reservation platform. There, he served as Head of the President’s Office and Chief Researcher, launching new ventures and internal research institutes. He has extensive experience as a consultant in the Theory of Constraints (TOC), including the implementation of Critical Chain Project Management (CCPM) across diverse industries, as well as business process improvement and innovation support. He later served as an executive officer at an AI-focused company, where he was engaged in the development of digital transformation (DX) and AI solutions. Since 2020, he has been involved in managing a wide range of projects from initiation through delivery. He has also served as a part-time lecturer at Tokyo Institute of Technology and as a review committee member for government-led venture investment programs.
The Evolution of Critical Chain Software
SUMMARY
While the basic concepts behind Critical Chain remain valid today, Critical Chain software has changed a lot over the past 30 years. In this presentation, Rob will talk about the evolution of ProChain’s software and how they have managed the inevitable conflict between building capabilities while maintaining simplicity. How can you give users the ability to navigate the different situations they might encounter, while minimizing the difficulties they will have in learning to use the tools?
SPEAKER BIO
Rob Newbold, CEO and founder of ProChain Solutions, is one of the world’s leading experts on Critical Chain project scheduling and management. He has forty years’ experience developing process improvements in various fields. Rob is a frequent writer and speaker and holds degrees from Stanford University, SUNY Stony Brook, and Yale University. He is the author of the books Islands of Stability (ProChain Press, 2019), The Project Manifesto (ProChain Press, 2014), The Billion Dollar Solution (ProChain Press, 2008) and Project Management in the Fast Lane (St. Lucie Press, 1998) and was a contributing author to the TOC Handbook from McGraw-Hill. He was presented with a TOCICO Lifetime Achievement award by TOCICO in 2023 and a TOC Excellence Award by TOCPA in 2024. ProChain Solutions has been a leading provider of software, methodology, and implementation services for Critical Chain solutions since 1997.
Production System Orchestration: "hotdogs & hamburgers, white gloves and jumping S-curves
Summary:
Learn how a rag-tag group of individual contributors are helping a large scale aerospace and defense contractor leave behind its addiction to productive capacity, re-think its thinking and learn to love flow again.
Speaker Bio:
Matthew O’Brien
Digital Production System Transformation Leader, Boeing
Matthew O’Brien has spent over 17 years at Boeing driving large-scale transformation across commercial and defense aerospace production programs. In his current role as Digital Production System Transformation Leader, he leads the transition from siloed, cost-focused operations to system-level flow management along the critical chain of the value network—delivering a proven 63x+ asymmetric profit advantage by prioritizing flow over localized productivity measures.
He spearheaded the implementation of a new system of management on the 737 P-8 “Poseidon” program, stabilizing operations and reducing cycle time by 5% in just 100 days. Matthew is now guiding phased deployments across major programs including the 737 mainline, 777X, F-15, AH-64, and H-47. He also led the digital thread simulation of Demand Driven MRP for 737 critical chain parts, uncovering $174M in annual net savings from just 47 part numbers, and initiated live supply chain pilots that are already showing significant savings and reduction of bullwhip effects across Boeing Commercial and Defense divisions.
With deep expertise in integrating strategy, processes, tactics, execution, and feedback loops, Matthew is at the forefront of reshaping heavy manufacturing operations to accelerate flow, improve resilience, and unlock transformational value.
The Goal Simulation Workshop
Presentation Summary
If you are an Executive or a Manager in a Manufacturing Organization this hands-on workshop is for you. It will teach you and your management team via a realistic, hands-on production simulation, how to use the techniques outlined in the Goal to increase productive capacity, improve on-time delivery, decrease inventory, reduce costs, and maximize net profit. - https://monterainc.com/goal-workshop/
Speaker Bio
Duncan Patrick is Executive Vice President of Montera. Montera is a global software and consulting company that helps manufacturers solve persistent operations and supply chain problems to accelerate productivity, revenue and profitability. Duncan works with clients to solve problems in operations and the supply chain related to lead times, the forecast, inventory, capacity, on time delivery, product development speed and market focus. Duncan holds an MBA degree from the Richard Ivey School of Business, Western University and a Bachelor of Commerce degree from The University of Calgary. Duncan is certified by the Theory of Constraints International Certification Organization in all aspects of TOC. In addition, Duncan is a Certified Management Consultant.
Presentation Summary
This session addresses the patient throughput challenges facing post-COVID Emergency Departments across the country—challenges that directly impact patient care. Presenters will share their experience using data analytics, with the support of AI, to uncover and identify resource constraints within the ED.
By aligning providers, nurses, and ancillary staff to patient flow, the team was able to optimize departmental efficiency without adding resources. Improvements were achieved in key performance areas, including Left Without Being Seen (LWBS), Length of Stay (LOS), and Patient Experience.
Attendees will gain ideas on using data effectively, leveraging AI to visually represent data, and approaching complex problems with actionable, resource-conscious solutions.
Speaker Bio
Dr Portale is Board Certified in Emergency Medicine with over 15 years of clinical experience. He trained at Jefferson University Hospital in Philadelphia, and obtained a Masters of Science in Public Health. He has held various academic and leadership positions and is currently Chair and Medical Director for Capital Health Emergency Department System in Trenton NJ. He has a strong interest in quality improvement and medical education.
Summary
In 2020, SpaceX successfully launched the first manned mission of the brand new Dragon 2 spacecraft. For the mission control teams, the "Demo-2" mission was the culmination of years of preparation and training. When the goal of flying 8 mission per year was set, it became clear that a paradigm shift was required in how training was conducted. While TOC proscribes a foundation for optimizing a system, the engineers at SpaceX are challenged to go much farther than that. We'll look at how the Theory of Constraints applied to optimizing the execution of complex, costly training events. Then we'll look at how integrating TOC within Elon Musk's Algorithm exposes the perils of premature optimization.
Speaker Bio
After 12 years as a United States Air Force officer and C-130 Instructor Navigator, Jeff shifted gears into working on small, aggressive problem solving teams in multiple startups and SaaS companies. In 2019 he was hired at SpaceX to train mission control teams to fly the Dragon spacecraft. As a Dragon Mission Director, Jeff was the final authority for safe operation of missions that included re-supplying the International Space Station and the first all-civilian commercial EVA. He is currently a consultant specializing in management, operations, and leadership for companies that want to realize the simplicity, speed, and transparency of the great teams he has been a part of. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Professional Aeronautics from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, and a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Colorado Denver.
Summary:
Buffer targets in TOC implementations use past patterns of consumption data and are often inadequate to protect availability against demand shifts caused by predictable demand drivers. The proposed dynamic buffer targeting, using AI/ML in demand sensing, anticipates these demand shifts and adjusts the relevant buffers proactively, thereby reducing stockouts and excess inventory. Its implementation in multiple companies has produced encouraging results.
Speaker Bio:
Dr. Sinha is the founder and CEO of Reflexive Supply Chain Solutions, a specialized consulting firm in the area of Operations and Supply Chain.
He has worked with Godrej Consumer Products as the Global Head of Manufacturing, Supply Chain and IT. He led the TOC implementation in GCPL in 2004, which was the first Viable Vision implementation in the world. Under his leadership, GCPL was awarded the Platinum Award by TOCICO in 2015. Dr. Sinha has led several TOC implementations across India, USA, Indonesia, Africa and Latin America.
Speaker Bio
A passionate and visionary entrepreneur, with over 18 years of expertise in critical rubber components for industrial precision use, Darshan Shah is a second-generation leader committed to carrying forward his family's rich legacy. The family business began its journey in 1983 with just two hand-press machines operating from a rented space in Goregaon. This humble start laid the foundation for what would later become Harkesh Rubber LLP, incorporated in 2015. As the head of a mid-size firm, Mr. Shah has successfully managed to strike a balance between catering to the growing needs of the industry and being agile enough to make rapid internal changes when required. He firmly believes in constant improvement, striving to do things better, faster, and bigger. Mr. Shah's ultimate vision is to put India on the world map for its quality products. Continuing his journey of personal and professional growth, Darshan Shah is currently pursuing the prestigious Stanford Seed Graduate program, indicating his unwavering commitment to acquiring knowledge and expanding his entrepreneurial skills. He has served as the ex-president of the Leo Club of Juhu, highlighting his dedication to serving others and making a positive impact in the community. His notable achievements include an invitation to one of the top three clubs in the United States.
SUMMARY
Behavioral health clinics face complex challenges like high demand, limited resources, and increasing provider burnout. This session introduces a standard Strategy & Tactic (S&T) Tree designed explicitly for outpatient behavioral health clinics. It provides a roadmap for improvement and growth.
SPEAKER BIO
Dr Dr. Sirias has a master’s degree in Industrial and Systems Engineering and a Ph.D. in Business Administration from The University of Memphis. He is also a certified Critical Chain Project Manager, TOCFE trainer, and TOCICO thinking process implementer. Dr. Sirias is currently a Professor in the Department of Management and Marketing at Saginaw Valley State University. Dr. Sirias’ research interests include how the Theory of Constraints can improve patient flow in Emergency Departments, Inpatient Units, Operating Rooms, and Outpatient Clinics. He is a co-author of the book: Smash the Bottleneck: Fixing Patient Flow for Better Care. In 2019, he was selected Practitioner of the Year by the Theory of Constraints International Certification Organization (TOCICO) for his work in education. Additionally, Dr. Sirias is the creator of the Problem-Solving Maps methodology, an innovative approach to teaching mathematics. PSM is currently being used by hundreds of teachers in different countries. In 2022, Dr. Sirias received a $245,000 grant from the Michigan Health Endowment Fund to apply the Theory of Constraints to improve access to behavioral health clinics. In 2024, he received the Lifetime Achievement Award for his contribution to the TOC Body of Knowledge. In addition to his professional activities, Dr. Sirias is a former participant in the Chess Olympiad.
Presentation Summary
Patient falls continue to pose persistent and costly challenges to healthcare systems worldwide, contributing to adverse patient outcomes, prolonged hospital stays, and increased resource use. Despite decades of effort, the frequency of falls highlights the need for a more focused and systemic approach. This study applies Constraints Management and High Reliability Organization (HRO) principles to reduce inpatient falls in collaboration with the Ministry of Health of Türkiye at Ankara Etlik City Hospital—a state-of-the-art facility with over 4,050 beds. Using the Theory of Constraints (TOC) Five Focusing Steps, the team identified key system constraints and implemented targeted interventions. In this pilot study, three-month control period following implementation showed measurable reductions in falls and related harm. Nevertheless, sustaining and scaling these improvements has proven to be challenging, largely due to factors such as heterogeneous patient risk profiles, fluctuating staff practices, inconsistent data quality, and the operational complexity inherent to large hospital systems. To address ongoing challenges with sustaining and replicating improvements, the Cynefin Framework is being considered to guide decision-making that reflects the varying levels of complexity in fall-related scenarios. The Cynefin framework distinguishes ordered from unordered domains; in complex and chaotic contexts, patterns must be sensed, and solutions emerge through experimentation. This differentiation supports more effective governance by aligning interventions with the nature of the situation—avoiding over-standardization in complex domains and enabling rapid response in chaotic ones. Concurrently, the initiative reinforces the core principles of High Reliability Organization (HRO), particularly preoccupation with failure, sensitivity to frontline operations, and commitment to resilience. Teams were encouraged to anticipate failure modes, respond to weak signals, an engage subject matter experts closest to the work to shape realistic, sustainable solutions. These behaviors were essential I reducing variation in fall prevention practices across departments and shifts. However, sustaining gains requires more than behavioral discipline. It depends on robust data quality and sufficiency—including timely, narrative-rich, and context-aware reporting that goes beyond binary metrics. Data sufficiency also includes the presence of both leading and lagging indicators that can inform learning from both success and failure. By combining Constraints Management, HRO behaviors, and Cynefin’s situational awareness lens, this integrated approach offers a practical, adaptive model for improving patient safety and operational reliability in dynamic healthcare environments, while building the foundations for long-term learning and system-level resilience.
Patient falls continue to pose persistent and costly challenges to healthcare systems worldwide, contributing to adverse patient outcomes, prolonged hospital stays, and increased resource use. Despite decades of effort, the frequency of falls highlights the need for a more focused and systemic approach. This study applies Constraints Management and High Reliability Organization (HRO) principles to reduce inpatient falls in collaboration with the Ministry of Health of Türkiye at Ankara Etlik City Hospital—a state-of-the-art facility with over 4,050 beds. Using the Theory of Constraints (TOC) Five Focusing Steps, the team identified key system constraints and implemented targeted interventions. In this pilot study, three-month control period following implementation showed measurable reductions in falls and related harm. Nevertheless, sustaining and scaling these improvements has proven to be challenging, largely due to factors such as heterogeneous patient risk profiles, fluctuating staff practices, inconsistent data quality, and the operational complexity inherent to large hospital systems. To address ongoing challenges with sustaining and replicating improvements, the Cynefin Framework is being considered to guide decision-making that reflects the varying levels of complexity in fall-related scenarios. The Cynefin framework distinguishes ordered from unordered domains; in complex and chaotic contexts, patterns must be sensed, and solutions emerge through experimentation. This differentiation supports more effective governance by aligning interventions with the nature of the situation—avoiding over-standardization in complex domains and enabling rapid response in chaotic ones. Concurrently, the initiative reinforces the core principles of High Reliability Organization (HRO), particularly preoccupation with failure, sensitivity to frontline operations, and commitment to resilience. Teams were encouraged to anticipate failure modes, respond to weak signals, an engage subject matter experts closest to the work to shape realistic, sustainable solutions. These behaviors were essential I reducing variation in fall prevention practices across departments and shifts. However, sustaining gains requires more than behavioral discipline. It depends on robust data quality and sufficiency—including timely, narrative-rich, and context-aware reporting that goes beyond binary metrics. Data sufficiency also includes the presence of both leading and lagging indicators that can inform learning from both success and failure. By combining Constraints Management, HRO behaviors, and Cynefin’s situational awareness lens, this integrated approach offers a practical, adaptive model for improving patient safety and operational reliability in dynamic healthcare environments, while building the foundations for long-term learning and system-level resilience.
Speaker Bio
Dr. Deborah Smith is a leader who believes in “Possibilities.” Deborah’s expertise includes leadership, performance improvement sciences, safety, quality, strategy, project management, sales, marketing, supporting large systems, rural, and even frontier organizations, healthcare, construction, manufacturing, supply chain, waste/water plants, government, the military, educational organizations, innovation centers, many other industries, etc. Her proudest career accomplishments are advancing individuals as future leaders.
She started her career as a Radiologic Technologist. She advanced her career to COO, CEO in Colorado. She learned improvement and leadership skills working with General Electric in many industries around the world, she moved to NOVACES as a Senior Vice President working with US Navy Globally, High-Reliability Solutions LLC. as a Senior Consultant, Quality Director with Veterans Administration. A Chief Strategy and Quality Officer for Indian Health Services in Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium. She served as the President of the Professional Licensure Board. She has worked directly with Executives in many of the top ten healthcare facilities across America. She served as an instructor at the GE Jack Welch Leadership Institute in Crotonville, NY. Some of her largest customers were the worldwide US Navy, Department of Defense, Veteran's Administration, General Electric, Kaiser Permanente, Stanford, Yale, John Hopkins, University San Francisco, Sutter, Providence, Zeiss Innovation, CS Wind America, Denver Water Company, Bal Seal Engineering, and The Knowledge Academy, London, England.
Her academic credentials are a Ph.D. in Management, a Master’s in Human Resource Management, a Bachelor’s in Education, and an Associate Degree in Radiologic Technology. Her certifications include MBB (Master Black Belt), MCA (Master Change Agent), certified Prosci Change Manager, IBM Innovation Leader, Human Center Design instructor, certified Jonah (Constraints Management), High-Reliability Coach/Practitioner, and certified PMP (Project Management Professional) in Portfolio, Program, Product, Project Management, Radiologic Technologist, and Author.
SUMMARY
Sims Limited faced major challenges with a labor-intensive scrap recycling process that drove low customer satisfaction, on-time delivery of only 50%, and long order-to-cash cycles. Hidden rework and late nights for staff were the norm.
By applying TOC tools and addressing a key ERP constraint, the team introduced a new contract management solution that integrated branch operations with shipping ports. This transformation gave Sims Limited full process visibility, cut delays, and dramatically improved delivery performance.
SPEAKER
Consultant delivering results across manufacturing operations, ERP implementations, M&A integrations, and digital transformation initiatives for Fortune 500 and private equity portfolio companies. Cross-functional leader of teams for automotive, HVAC, oil and gas, and recycling environments. Known playbook for accelerated value creation through mixed production implementation, process redesign, and vendor oversight. Trusted advisor to companies from $5M to $10Bn in size.
Rocco Surace, CPA, ABV, CVA, CFF, CGMA, Jonah, is a partner with The Bonadio Group. His client services are focused on TOC Based process improvement services, succession planning, financial and tax due diligence in acquisitions and divestitures, and holistically based process improvement services.
Rocco's skills have been developed as a result of hands on training and leading projects with and for some of the world leaders. His formal education and training has included: Jonah designation from the Avraham Y. Goldratt Institute, Certifications in TOC Disciplines from the TOC International Certification Organization, Process based cost management with the concept developers of Activity Based Costing, and Business Processed Based Re-Engineering through training with Dr. Michael Hammer obtaining his Certificate of Mastery in Re-Engineering.
Rocco is past Chairperson of the Theory of Constraints International Certification Organization. He considers himself very fortunate to have learned directly from Dr. Eli Goldratt, the father of TOC. He served as North American Regional Director for Goldratt Consulting from 2004 to 2006.
Integrating Teamology in the Theory of Constraints
Presentation Summary
While CCPM effectively manages flow, it assumes the project team is already aligned, capable, and collaborative. In practice, the human side of projects is often the hidden constraint. Misaligned team composition, poor communication, and limited learning during execution can stall performance—regardless of how well the schedule is managed.
This session introduces an evolved CCPM approach by integrating Doug Wilde’s Teamology, which builds cognitively diverse teams using Jungian typology, and embedding structured peer learning into project flow. This aligns with TOC’s core principle: focus on the real constraint to improve throughput.
A proposed pilot will be shared, comparing a standard CCPM team with one using the A-Team framework: Teamology-informed team design, a co-created team charter, learning rituals such as feedback circles and “hotseats,” and psychological safety checks. The goal is not just faster delivery, but smarter, self-improving teams.
Attendees will leave with a simple, replicable framework for building A-Teams:
How to use typology to design better teams
How to embed learning rituals into project cycles
How to measure team functioning alongside buffer burn
How evolving CCPM in this way can dramatically boost project velocity and long-term team effectiveness
Speaker Bio
John van der Steur is Senior Expert People Flow at Mobilé 4 Flow & Innovation, a leadership consultant, team strategist, and author of The Power of Polarities: An Innovative Method to Transform Individuals, Teams, and Organizations. Based on Carl Jung’s Theory of the Personality. With a background in Jungian psychology and decades of experience helping organizations build high-performance teams, John brings a unique lens to the intersection of human dynamics and operational excellence. His work bridges theory and practice, showing how psychological diversity, structured peer learning, and systems thinking can unlock extraordinary collaboration.
Utilizing Theory of Constraints and System Dynamics with AI to enhance PTSD Research Collaboration
Summary
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) remains vastly underdiagnosed, with prevalence estimated at 14% in the general population yet only 2% reflected in medical claims data. This discrepancy hides chronic health outcomes for trauma survivors, poor pharmacotherapy response, widespread underdiagnosis, and overloaded providers–highlighting a systemic healthcare challenge. Our interdisciplinary research team addressed this by integrating two systems thinking frameworks: Theory of Constraints (TOC) and System Dynamics (SD) using artificial intelligence to both develop and scrutinize shared visual models for multidisciplinary research collaboration. Through a comprehensive literature review, medical record analysis, and consultation with experts and system stakeholders, we first constructed a Current Reality Tree (CRT) to identify many Undesirable Effects (UDEs) contributing to untreated PTSD and systemic barriers to PTSD diagnosis, such as limited diagnostic screening and healthcare resource constraints. In contrast, our system dynamics model, built largely with AI, emphasized individual-level treatment dynamics and impacts. We then developed a Future Reality Tree (FRT) for the CRT, projecting how interventions like machine learning-driven targeted screening could enhance the population proportion diagnosed and therefore treated. However, this risked a negative branch: overburdening healthcare systems with increased treatment caseloads. Fortuitously, a subset of the AI-generated system dynamics model showed how PTSD treatment techniques must mitigate polyvagal stress responses in order to produce sustained engagement and effectiveness. A specific combination of therapies was hypothesized, that along with appropriate training and dissemination, could trim this negative branch by offering scalable home-based, effective interventions. Socializing these models—sharing and refining them collaboratively—was critical to securing team buy-in and building a shared problem understanding. While the TOC model relied on manual development with AI scrutiny, a surprisingly high-quality system dynamics model was produced almost entirely by AI with focused expert refinement. AI alone proved "impoverished" without human input, and could not produce buy-in without iterative human engagement. Our presentation will illustrate how blending TOC, system dynamics, and AI, reinforced by socialization, provides a comprehensive strategy for improving PTSD diagnosis and treatment, offering a replicable model for complex healthcare challenges.
Speaker Bio
Alexandria Viszolay is a third-year medical student at the University of New Mexico School of Medicine and a graduate research assistant in the Division of Translational Informatics. She holds a BS in Biochemistry with Honors from the University of New Mexico, where she later served as a curriculum coordinator in the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology. Alexandria is student representative to the medical school administration, a Learning Communities leader, President of the Oncology and Hematology Student Chapter, and a member of the National Community of Scholars. Her scholarly interests focus on the application of systems thinking to clinical practice and healthcare delivery through innovative, interdisciplinary approaches.
Presentation Summary
Current CCPM planning and scheduling risk management metrics are not fully leveraging the capabilities of newly available technologies. To remain relevant, the Theory of Constraints must adapt to incorporate these advancements.
This session will offer a deeper understanding of the limitations of existing CCPM risk management metrics and explore why updating them is critical in today’s evolving technological landscape.
Speaker Bio
Daniel Walsh is a sought-after lecturer, coach, strategic thinker and is a trusted advisor to many senior corporate executives, is currently a member of numerous corporate boards. In addition, he is co-founder of Exepron©, an advanced EPPM SaaS solution based on Critical Chain methodology. His current efforts are focusing on developing synchronous enterprise value chain solutions in multiple industry sectors. His research and development are centered on identifying the need to identify and leverage the strategic constraints of the enterprise, which is the key to increasing throughput. This culminated in the development of the Integrated Enterprise Scheduling®, (IES®) solution engine. Initial empirical results from deploying the IES® in a dozen large companies over a five-year period have been very promising. Many executives and thought leaders are convinced this may very well be the unified scheduling solution required for maximizing the profit of an enterprise-wide value chain. The IES approach was chronicled when he co-authored The TOC Handbook, the seminal Theory of Constraints reference textbook.
The Goal Simulation Workshop
Presentation Summary
If you are an Executive or a Manager in a Manufacturing Organization this hands-on workshop is for you. It will teach you and your management team via a realistic, hands-on production simulation, how to use the techniques outlined in the Goal to increase productive capacity, improve on-time delivery, decrease inventory, reduce costs, and For more info, please visit: https://monterainc.com/goal-workshop/
Speaker Bio
Jack Warchalowski is the CEO of Montera. Montera is a global software and consulting company that helps manufacturers solve persistent operations and supply chain problems to accelerate productivity, revenue and profitability.. Jack helps organizations enhance their profitability and competitive position through the implementation of strategic improvement initiatives driven by Roadrunner software. Jack is a Certified Management Consultant and a Professional Engineer registered in Ontario. He holds an MBA degree from the Wilfrid Laurier University and a Bachelor of Applied Science in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Waterloo in Waterloo, Ontario. In addition, Jack is certified by the TOCICO in all aspects of TOC.
Presentation Summary
This session addresses the patient throughput challenges facing post-COVID Emergency Departments across the country—challenges that directly impact patient care. Presenters will share their experience using data analytics, with the support of AI, to uncover and identify resource constraints within the ED.
By aligning providers, nurses, and ancillary staff to patient flow, the team was able to optimize departmental efficiency without adding resources. Improvements were achieved in key performance areas, including Left Without Being Seen (LWBS), Length of Stay (LOS), and Patient Experience.
Attendees will gain ideas on using data effectively, leveraging AI to visually represent data, and approaching complex problems with actionable, resource-conscious solutions.
Speaker Bio
Kyle Wassermann is the Medical Director of Analytics, Associate Medical Director (Emergency Department), Emergency Medicine Physician
Presented by John van der Steur & Willem de Wit
SUMMARY
The problem or challenge: CCPM effectively manages flow, but it assumes the project team is already aligned, capable, and collaborative. In reality, the human side of projects—the team itself—is often the hidden constraint. Misaligned team composition, poor communication, and lack of learning during execution stall performance, regardless of how well the schedule is managed. The solution or TOC concept: By integrating Doug Wilde’s Teamology, a method to build cognitively diverse teams based on Jungian typology, and embedding structured peer learning into project flow, we can evolve CCPM to address the human constraint. This approach aligns with TOC’s core principle: focus on the real constraint to improve throughput. The implementation or case example: I will share a proposed pilot where one CCPM team operates as usual, and another applies the A-Team framework: Teamology-informed design, a co-created team charter, peer learning rituals (like feedback circles and “hotseats”), and psychological safety checks. The aim is not just faster delivery but smarter, self-improving teams. The actionable takeaway: Attendees will leave with a simple, replicable framework for building A-Teams: - How to use typology to design better teams - How to embed learning rituals into project cycles - How to measure team functioning alongside buffer burn - And how evolving CCPM in this way can dramatically boost project velocity and long-term team effectiveness.
Speaker Bio
Willem de Wit learned hard work before most kids learned long division. Growing up in Holland’s bulb fields near Keukenhof, he was driving a tractor at eight. The lesson stuck: roll up your sleeves, get it done.
But Willem wasn’t content with just muddy boots. As a teenager, he asked the big question: what is life really about? That curiosity carried him from the flower fields to the halls of Leiden University, where he studied philosophy—and won the Dutch Pierre Bayle Essay Prize. One of the rare philosophers to actually get paid for thinking.
Today, Willem blends pragmatism with philosophy. He warns against the “hammer and nail” trap: applying the same solution everywhere. Instead, he insists on first understanding the case—then solving it right.
Willem is the force behind Innovation Dialogues, a format leaders praise for cutting through noise and surfacing what really drives progress—especially in the urgent fields of climate adaptation and energy transition.
He lives between the Netherlands and Germany, and when he’s not guiding innovation, he’s with his partner and two daughters
Summary
There is a 3rd Way (out of five) to increase Throughput in a System — without acting on the “flow rate” Constraint (to increase the Volume of the Flow), or reducing the “lead time” Constraint (to increase the Velocity of the Flow). Instead, increase the Value of the Flow, by acting to improve the Value-to-Customer (V2C) of the Output — as illustrated in the solo-preneur Melissa Case Study.
Speaker Bio:
Richard E. Zultner, Jonah - Mechanic*, is a Level 3 TOCICO Certified Implementer (TOCIC™️) in Critical Chain Project Management, and a certified PMI Project Management Professional (PMP). He works with frustrated project managers facing impossible challenges, teaches them how to consistently finish their projects early (in 15-25% less time), by shifting their project management paradigm to Critical Chain Project Management (CC PM).
Additionally, Richard is an ASQ Certified Quality Engineer (CQE), and Certified Software Quality Engineer (CSQE). He is a Six Sigma Master Black Belt (MBB), and a QFD Red Belt. Richard is an ISQFD International Akao Prize® recipient for his lifetime contributions to "Value World” communities, and he holds the title of QFD-Architekt from the QFD Institute — Deutschland.
Formerly Richard was an Adjunct Professor of Critical Chain Project Management at the Howe Graduate School of Technology Management, Stevens Institute of Technology in Hoboken, NJ, USA.
Summary
WiseTech Global is an organization proud of its DNA - TOC Thinking Processes, the Black Built in Thinking, Constraints, buffers, flow, enabling mantras and credo's.
As WiseTech grows, it will require reliable, repeatable, scalable delivery of projects. But how do you implement a project management 'way of working' with the structures necessary for scalability, without jeopardising the cultural need for agility, responsiveness, fast pace and high velocity?
This presentation will showcase:
The Core Conflict, and how it was arrived at.
The current environmental conditions (conditions ripe for success).
A sample of the content being implemented for the WiseTech Way Project Delivery Framework.
A taste of what the future Project Portfolio Management 'Way of Working' will look like.