Pedroso Dos Santos

The Theory of Constraints (TOC) is a recent theory that emerged with the aim of managing the constraints that limit a system’s capacity. Parallel to TOC is the drum-lung-rope method (TPC), which is directly related to the exploitation of the constraint (drum) through the use of lungs and synchronisation between the productive links (rope). In this context, the following study aims to apply the TPC method in an automotive industry. To develop the application, the company’s layout, the logical structure of the product (engine A) and the production route were illustrated; then the capacity of the machines at each station was calculated, the constraint identified and the type and size of the lung defined. As a result, machine 1 (M01) at station 1 (E1) was identified as the line constraint (drum) and a 5-engine dispatch buffer was defined to cover line stops.