What is an ineffective action concerning constraints in a system?

Strengthening non-constraints is considered an ineffective action regarding constraints in a system because it diverts focus from the true bottleneck or constraint that limits overall system performance. In Lean and Six Sigma methodologies, the primary goal is to optimize the entire system by identifying and addressing constraints, as they dictate the throughput and capacity of the process.

By strengthening areas that are not constraints, resources and efforts are misallocated, leading to little or no improvement in the overall system’s performance. Instead of solving the issue at the constraint, the system may become imbalanced, with certain areas receiving additional strengthening while the actual limiting factor remains unaddressed. Thus, this approach fails to enhance the overall efficiency and efficacy of the process, and can even lead to increased waste if resources are not directed where they are most needed.

In contrast, actions like identifying the weakest link, subordinating other activities to the constraints, and elevating system constraints directly target improving the efficiency and throughput of the system by ensuring that the most critical limiting factors are adequately addressed.