Recent applications of the Theory of Constraints in operations management have adopted the method called Simplified Drum-Buffer-Rope (S-DBR) as the standard for production planning and control. However, there is little information reported in the literature on this method's main concepts and premises, especially in national and international journals. This article aims to present the S-DBR method for production planning and its corresponding control approach called Buffer Management, both applied to make-to-order (MTO) production environments. It also presents their main characteristics, assumptions, and differences from the classical DBR method. In addition, it includes a proposal to complement the S-DBR method for delivering urgent orders with a high probability of meeting the delivery schedule.
Production planning and control; Theory of Constraints; Demand management
