Fiducia TogetherCapacity constraints and bottlenecks
The one step that limits everything. Improving anything else changes nothing.
Please note: This page explains what a term means. It is general information, not legal, financial, tax or investment advice, and it does not know anything about your business. Before you sign, file or commit to anything, check it with an accountant, a solicitor, or the official guidance we link to.
What it means
A bottleneck is the step in a process with the least capacity, which determines the throughput of the whole.
Why it matters
Investment anywhere other than the bottleneck produces no additional output. It is the single most useful idea in operations and the most commonly ignored.
What it looks like in practice
Find it by looking for where work queues. Then either increase its capacity, offload work from it, or subordinate everything else to keeping it busy.\n\nThe bottleneck moves once relieved, which is expected rather than a failure.
What to watch out for
Optimising a non-bottleneck step, which produces more work-in-progress and no more output.
Where to get proper advice
Your own figures.
Where to read more
Last reviewed 2026-08-28 by Fiducia Together · Next review due 2027-08-28
Please note: This page explains what a term means. It is general information, not legal, financial, tax or investment advice, and it does not know anything about your business. Before you sign, file or commit to anything, check it with an accountant, a solicitor, or the official guidance we link to.