In a theory of constraints system, what does the drum enforce?

In a theory of constraints system, the drum is crucial for setting the pace of the overall production process. It does this by establishing a rhythm for the entire system based on the capacity of the constraint or bottleneck resource. This ensures that the entire production flow is synchronized to match the output rate of the constraint, preventing overproduction at any preceding processes and thereby minimizing the risk of excess inventory.

By setting the pace, the drum helps maintain a steady and predictable flow throughout the system, enabling better planning, scheduling, and resource allocation. The focus is not only on the output of the constraint but also on ensuring that all processes upstream and downstream are aligned to this pace, contributing to more efficient operations.

The other options do not capture the essence of what the drum does as accurately. While production authorization and pace protection are relevant concepts in production systems, they do not specifically address the fundamental role of the drum in establishing the necessary pace for the workflow.