About this Presentation
Our experience and lessons learnt in using the theory of constraints (TOC) to bring about radical improvement in the provision of solid waste management services in African cities are described in this session. We held initial meetings in all cities (5 day workshop). A wide selection of stakeholders participated, resulting in large groups (50-80). Attendees included: municipal employees, legislators, law enforcement city counselors, ministry of environment, waste management authority, refuse contractors, civil society, private sector / corporations, media, and academia. Collection of the distribution solution is the inverse of the distribution solution. The principles involved in organizing effective solid waste refuse collection is modelled on the TOC distribution solution by establishing an inverse distribution system. Principles remain the same except that you are pulling the material back into the aggregated center (dumpsite) instead of distributing it. Frequency of collection is an important factor (too infrequent and health risks rise, too frequent and collection costs are too high). Small amounts brought to aggregation points using the most effective and inexpensive methods (wheelbarrows and push carts). Route planning and correct sizing of vehicles for each area and for the city as a whole is very important. Utilization of existing vehicles is low (30% or less). Exploiting existing resources can double capacity.
What Will You Learn
To help you get the most value from this session, we’ve highlighted a few key points. These takeaways capture the main ideas and practical insights from the presentation, making it easier for you to review, reflect, and apply what you’ve learned.
Instructor(s)
Jennifer Eckman
Ms Alka Wadhwa
Alka Wadhwa is an experienced consultant and process improvement expert with over 24 years of expertise in the Theory of Constraints (TOC), Lean Six Sigma, and organizational performance optimization. She has successfully led projects in healthcare, financial services, and manufacturing, driving significant improvements such as a 67% boost in hospital operations and a 140% increase in outpatient visits.
Previously, Alka Wadhwa spent 17+ years at GE Global Research Center, where she led initiatives to enhance various GE businesses through advanced technologies, process redesign, and system optimization. Founder of Better Solutions Consulting, LLC, she specializes in using TOC, Six Sigma, and data analytics to streamline operations and build high-performance teams.
Her work has earned her multiple accolades, including the Empire State Award of Excellence in healthcare.
Dr Gary Wadhwa
Dr. Gary Wadhwa is a Board Certified Oral & Maxillofacial Surgeon with extensive experience in the field. He completed his Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery training at Montefiore Hospital, Albert Einstein College of Medicine in Bronx, NY, and has served as an Attending at prestigious institutions like St. Peters Hospitals, Ellis Hospital, and Beth Israel Hospital in NY. With a career spanning over two decades, he was the former CEO and President of a group specialty practice in NY from 1994 to 2015. Dr. Wadhwa holds an MBA from UT at Knoxville, TN, and has undergone additional training in System Dynamics at MIT, Health System Management at Harvard Business School, and Entrepreneurship and healthcare innovations at Columbia Business School. Committed to expanding access to Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery care, he is currently engaged in a meaningful project to provide healthcare services to underserved populations in inner city and rural areas through non-profit Community Health Centers.