Useful example

Invoice-Processing Capacity

A plain-language example for finance operations teams. Use it to think about whether an improvement changes total process output, not just one local activity.

Find my process constraint

Example situation

The finance team wants to understand why invoices wait even after improving parts of the process.

Typical model inputs

Flow unit
invoices
Demand
500 invoices per week

Capacity signals

Data validation

540 per week

Enough capacity, but quality issues create repeat work.

Manager approval

430 per week

Current limiting capacity.

Payment release

700 per week

Not limiting at current volume.

Improvement test

Improving approval availability changes system output; improving payment release alone leaves the constraint unchanged.