Yeah I misspelled Theory of Constraints in my rush to post earlier. I don’t normally spell it Thoery of Contraints.

I thought I’d add another point that I learned from The Goal. In business accounting Inventory is an asset, which normally means it is a good thing. However inventory must be insured, counted, protected and marketed. Inventory becomes obsolete. Inventory consumes working capital. You can go broke with inventory.

As an exercise, value your inventory at fire sale prices. Then realise that someone, somewhere in the world is offering a product that is a replacement for yours at a fire sale price.

Inventory is only an asset at the moment it is turned into cash – not sold, but when you actually get paid.