Improving the product mix heuristic in the theory of constraints

The product mix heuristic is the component in the theory of constraints (TOC) which develops a master production schedule (MPS) to maximize system throughput. Prior research identified certain conditions where the TOC product mix heuristic does not identify the optimal solution. This paper revises the TOC product mix heuristic to identify the optimal product mix under conditions where the original TOC heuristic failed. The revised heuristic continues to be relatively easy for managers to understand and use when developing an MPS.