Glossary
Constraint
Anything that limits what the operation can do.
Technical definition
A rule or limit — capacity, changeover, tooling, labor, material, or sequencing — that a valid plan must respect.
Manufacturing example
A tool that only fits one machine constrains where a job can run.
Common misconception
Constraints are not just capacity; sequencing and compatibility rules constrain plans just as hard.
Why it matters operationally
Optimizing without honoring constraints produces plans that cannot be executed.
Related ConstraintFlow capability
Related terms
Put constraint to work
See how ConstraintFlow turns operational concepts into optimized decisions.