Bottleneck Item

In business, a bottleneck is any activity that slows down or limits the flow of work. In manufacturing, a bottleneck is often a production line where one operation is much slower than the others and becomes a limiting factor in overall output.

Operations managers strive to identify and eliminate bottlenecks so that work can flow smoothly and efficiently. They may use various tools and techniques, such as process mapping, to find bottlenecks and develop plans to address them.

Bottlenecks can occur anywhere in a manufacturing process, from raw materials procurement to shipping finished products. Common causes of bottlenecks include insufficient staffing, equipment malfunctions, and unexpected demand spikes.