About this Presentation
It is empirically clear that many critical chain (and other TOC) implementations fail either from the beginning or after a period of time as short as one or two years. This includes some implementations that were initially extremely effective, published successes. The purpose of this workshop is to provide insights into how to avoid this outcome and greatly enhance the chances of not only success, but long-term sustainability with ever-increasing results. Areas of focus include crucial preparatory steps that are not well documented in the existing literature, the hidden power of the projects company S&T tree (even for functional implementations), and the way to spread true cultural change through the implementing organization. Finally, three simple questions are proposed for each implementation step that create a world of difference for the prospects of phenomenal success and sustainability of the critical chain implementation. For those who might now specialize in critical chain, much of the material is also applicable to all TOC implementations and strategy and tactics (S&T) trees.
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)
David Updegrove
David Updegrove is a 35-year practitioner of the Theory of Constraints and is a member of TOCICO’s Board of Directors. David began his career in storekeeping, production control, and industrial engineering spanning 20 years at the Boeing Company. In 1988 he first implemented Drum-Buffer-Rope for Boeing Microelectronics, achieving remarkable results. This was followed by implementations in Printed Circuit Board Fabrication, Sheet Metal and Extrusion, and other areas. He became an internal consultant at Boeing and trained a large number of engineers on the principles of TOC. In early 2000, David left Boeing to become an independent TOC consultant. He has taught, implemented, and trained leaders in all aspects of TOC all around the world and in multiple different industries. He worked with Dr. Eli Goldratt the last few years of his life. David is the author of two books, The Critical Chain Implementation Handbook, published in 2014, and Breakthrough to Clear Thinking and Innovation, published in 2022. He has also written many articles and papers for the TOC community and beyond.
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.