Fundamentals of Capacity Planning and Analysis

Fundamentals of Capacity Planning and Analysis is an essential professional development course designed for operations managers, industrial engineers, and supply chain analysts who need to optimize operational throughput and systematically eliminate bottlenecks. Led by Ray Harkins and The Manufacturing Academy, this comprehensive program equips learners with the analytical tools required to measure, model, and scale capacity in any production or service environment. Students dive deep into fundamental frameworks like Eliyahu Goldratt’s Theory of Constraints and the classic 5-Step Method for bottleneck analysis. The curriculum goes far beyond theory, providing practical step-by-step guidance on calculation methodologies such as Overall Equipment Effectiveness (OEE), single and multi-part aggregation planning, and wait-line modeling. Through hands-on Excel exercises, learners practice building single and multi-server queue models to predict system performance under varying demand patterns. Whether you are managing a manufacturing shop floor, designing a service delivery workflow, or planning infrastructure investments, this course provides the quantitative foundation to make data-driven decisions that reduce lead times, lower operational costs, and support scalable business growth.