Thinking exercises used in the Theory of Constraints (TOC) were used to find and remove constraints at the Merged Beams Experiment at Oak Ridge National Laboratory. The goal of this project was to significantly reduce the amount of time used to take a certain type of measurement during an experimental cycle. After the TOC exercises were used, a basic plan for change was discovered. Preliminary data were taken to establish a baseline of performance from which changes were made. Post-Modification was analyzed showing the project was a success.
The overlying reasoning for this exercise was to prove successfully that continuous improvement techniques used in the manufacturing industry can also be successful in a research environment. After overcoming the differences in the goals between each environment, it can be concluded that this reasoning is justified.
","abstract_html":"<p>Thinking exercises used in the Theory of Constraints (TOC) were used to find and remove constraints at the Merged Beams Experiment at Oak Ridge National Laboratory. The goal of this project was to significantly reduce the amount of time used to take a certain type of measurement during an experimental cycle. After the TOC exercises were used, a basic plan for change was discovered. Preliminary data were taken to establish a baseline of performance from which changes were made. Post-Modification was analyzed showing the project was a success.</p><p>The overlying reasoning for this exercise was to prove successfully that continuous improvement techniques used in the manufacturing industry can also be successful in a research environment. After overcoming the differences in the goals between each environment, it can be concluded that this reasoning is justified.</p>","abstract_has_math":false,"creators":["Gross, Bryan Richard"],"institution":null,"degree_name":"MS (Master of Science)","degree_level":"Thesis - unrestricted","degree_discipline":"Technology","degree_department":null,"school":null,"contributors":[],"advisors":[],"committee_chairs":[],"committee_members":[],"year":2009,"date_issued":"2009-12-19T08:00:00Z","date_published":"2009-12-19T08:00:00Z","updated_at":"2026-07-24T02:21:03Z","subjects":["Atomic Physics","Theory of Constraints","Continuous Improvement","Engineering","Engineering Mechanics","Engineering Science and Materials"],"languages":[],"rights":["Copyright by the authors."],"rights_urls":[],"identifier_entries":[]},"links":{"outbound_url":"https://dc.etsu.edu/etd/1893","outbound_label":"Repository record","outbound_source":"dc:identifier"},"metadata_groups":[{"id":"people","label":"People","entries":[{"key":"dc:creator","label":"Author","values":["Gross, Bryan Richard"]}]},{"id":"academic_context","label":"Academic Context","entries":[{"key":"dc:date.issued","label":"Date","values":["2009-12-19T08:00:00Z"]},{"key":"thesis:degree_discipline","label":"Discipline","values":["Technology"]},{"key":"thesis:degree_level","label":"Degree Level","values":["Thesis - unrestricted"]},{"key":"thesis:degree_name","label":"Degree Name","values":["MS (Master of Science)"]}]},{"id":"subjects_keywords","label":"Subjects and Keywords","entries":[{"key":"dc:subject","label":"Dc Subject","values":["Atomic Physics","Theory of Constraints","Continuous Improvement","Engineering","Engineering Mechanics","Engineering Science and Materials"]}]},{"id":"language_rights","label":"Language and Rights","entries":[{"key":"dc:rights","label":"Dc Rights","values":["Copyright by the authors."]}]},{"id":"identifiers","label":"Identifiers","entries":[{"key":"dc:identifier","label":"Identifier","values":["https://dc.etsu.edu/context/etd/article/3245/viewcontent/GrossB111009f.pdf","https://dc.etsu.edu/etd/1893"]}]},{"id":"additional","label":"Additional Metadata","entries":[{"key":"dc:description.abstract","label":"Abstract","values":["Thinking exercises used in the Theory of Constraints (TOC) were used to find and remove constraints at the Merged Beams Experiment at Oak Ridge National Laboratory. The goal of this project was to significantly reduce the amount of time used to take a certain type of measurement during an experimental cycle. After the TOC exercises were used, a basic plan for change was discovered. Preliminary data were taken to establish a baseline of performance from which changes were made. Post-Modification was analyzed showing the project was a success.
The overlying reasoning for this exercise was to prove successfully that continuous improvement techniques used in the manufacturing industry can also be successful in a research environment. After overcoming the differences in the goals between each environment, it can be concluded that this reasoning is justified.
"]},{"key":"dc:title","label":"Title","values":["A Use of Theory of Constraints Thinking Processes for Improvements in the Merged Beams Experiment at Oak Ridge National Laboratory."]}]}],"canonical_facts":{"dc:creator":["Gross, Bryan Richard"],"dc:date.issued":["2009-12-19T08:00:00Z"],"dc:description.abstract":["Thinking exercises used in the Theory of Constraints (TOC) were used to find and remove constraints at the Merged Beams Experiment at Oak Ridge National Laboratory. The goal of this project was to significantly reduce the amount of time used to take a certain type of measurement during an experimental cycle. After the TOC exercises were used, a basic plan for change was discovered. Preliminary data were taken to establish a baseline of performance from which changes were made. Post-Modification was analyzed showing the project was a success.
The overlying reasoning for this exercise was to prove successfully that continuous improvement techniques used in the manufacturing industry can also be successful in a research environment. After overcoming the differences in the goals between each environment, it can be concluded that this reasoning is justified.
"],"dc:identifier":["https://dc.etsu.edu/context/etd/article/3245/viewcontent/GrossB111009f.pdf","https://dc.etsu.edu/etd/1893"],"dc:rights":["Copyright by the authors."],"dc:subject":["Atomic Physics","Theory of Constraints","Continuous Improvement","Engineering","Engineering Mechanics","Engineering Science and Materials"],"dc:title":["A Use of Theory of Constraints Thinking Processes for Improvements in the Merged Beams Experiment at Oak Ridge National Laboratory."],"thesis:degree_discipline":["Technology"],"thesis:degree_level":["Thesis - unrestricted"],"thesis:degree_name":["MS (Master of Science)"]},"updated_at":"2026-07-24T02:21:03Z"}